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e: 


=a 


The  Story  of  a 

Confederate  Boy 

in  the  Civil 

War 


£-G3^ 


By 

David  E.  Johnston 


of  the  7th  Virginia 
Infantry  Regiment 

Author  of 

"Middle  New  River 

Settlements" 


fzj   ■ 


With  Introduction  by 

Rev.  C.  E.  Cline,  D.D. 

A  Methodist  Minister  and 

Chaplain  of  the  Military  Order  of  the 

Loyal  Legion,  U.  S.  A. 


a  a 


THE1.  CAROLINA 


Copyright,  1914 

BY 

DAVID  E.  JOHNSTON 


PUBLISHED  BY 

GLASS  *  PKLDHOMME  COMPANY 

PORTLAND.  OREGON 


Preface 

Some  twenty-eight  years  ago  I  wrote  and  pub- 
lished a  small  book  recounting  my  personal  ex- 
periences in  the  Civil  War,  but  this  book  is  long 
out  of  print,  and  the  publication  exhausted.  At 
the  urgent  request  of  some  of  my  old  comrades 
who  still  survive,  and  of  friends  and  my  own 
family,  I  have  undertaken  the  task  of  rewriting 
and  publishing  this  story. 

As  stated  in  the  preface  to  the  former  volume, 
the  principal  object  of  this  work  is  to  record,  largely 
from  memory,  and  after  the  lapse  of  many  years 
(now  nearly  half  a  century)  since  the  termination 
of  the  war  between  the  states  of  the  Federal  Union, 
the  history,  conduct,  character  and  deeds  of  the 
men  who  composed  Company  D,  Seventh  regiment 
of  Virginia  infantry,  and  the  part  they  bore  m 
that  memorable  conflict. 

The  chief  motive  which  inspires  this  undertak- 
ing is  to  give  some  meager  idea  of  the  Confederate 
soldier  in  the  ranks,  and  of  his  individual  deeds  of 
heroism,  particularly  of  that  patriotic,  self-sacrific- 
ing, brave  company  of  men  with  whose  fortunes  and 
destiny  my  own  were  linked  for  four  long  years 
of  blood  and  carnage,  and  to  whom  during  that 
to  period  I  was  bound  by  ties  stronger  than  hooks  of 
^steel ;    whose    confidence    and    friendship    I    fully 
^shared,  and  as  fully  reciprocated. 

X-        r 

r\~  iii 


To  the  surviving  members  of  that  company,  to 
the  widows  and  children,  broken-hearted  mothers, 
and  to  gray-haired,  disconsolate  fathers  (if  such 
still  live)  of  those  who  fell  amidst  the  battle  and 
beneath  its  thunders,  or  perished  from  wounds  or 
disease,  this  work  is  dedicated.  The  character  of 
the  men  who  composed  that  company,  and  their 
deeds  of  valor  and  heroism,  will  ever  live,  and  in 
the  hearts  of  our  people  will  be  enshrined  the  names 
of  the  gallant  dead  as  well  as  of  the  living,  as  the 
champions  of  constitutional  liberty.  They  will  be 
held  in  grateful  remembrance  by  their  own  coun- 
trymen, appreciated  and  recognized  by  all  people 
of  all  lands,  who  admire  brave  deeds,  true  courage, 
and  devotion  of  American  soldiers  to  cause  and 
country. 

For  some  of  the  dates  and  material  I  am  in- 
debted to  comrades.  I  also  found  considerable  in- 
formation from  letters  written  by  myself  during 
the  war  to  a  friend,  not  in  the  army,  and  not  sub- 
ject to  military  duty,  on  account  of  sex;  who,  as 
I  write,  sits  by  me,  having  now  (February,  1914), 
for  a  period  of  more  than  forty-six  years  been  the 
sharer  of  my  joys,  burdens  and  sorrows;  whose 
only  brother.  George  Daniel  Pearis,  a  boy  of  seven- 
teen years,  and  a  member  of  Bryan's  Virginia  bat- 
tery, fell  mortally  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Cloyd's 
Farm.  May  9.  1864. 

DAVID  E.  JOHNSTON. 

Portland,  Oregon,  May,  1914. 


Introduction 

The  author  of  this  book  is  my  neighbor.  He 
was  a  Confederate,  and  I  a  Union  soldier.  Vir- 
ginia born,  he  worked  hard  in  youth.  A  country 
lawyer,  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  West  Virginia, 
Representative  in  Congress,  and  Circuit  Judge,  his 
life  has  been  one  of  activity  and  achievement. 
Blessed  with  a  face  and  manner  which  disarm 
suspicion,  inspire  confidence  and  good  will,  he 
makes  new  friends,  and  retains  old  ones. 

Judge  Johnston  (having  through  life  practiced 
the  virtues  of  a  good  Baptist),  is,  therefore,  morally 
sound  to  the  core.  He  has  succeeded,  not  by  luck 
or  chance,  but  because  of  what  he  is.  Withal,  he 
has  cultivated  the  faculty  for  hard  work ;  in  fact, 
through  life  he  has  liked  nothing  so  well  as  hard 
work. 

A  vast  good  nature,  running  easily  into  jocular 
talk,  with  interesting  stories,  in  which  he  excels, 
he  is  able  to  meet  every  kind  of  man  in  every  rank 
of  society,  catching  with  unerring  instinct  the  tem- 
per of  every  individual  and  company  where  he  is. 

He  is  thoroughly  American,  and  though  having 
traveled  extensively  in  Europe  and  the  East,  he  is 
not  spoiled  with  aping  foreigners,  nor  "rattled" 
by  their  frivolous  accomplishments.  He  is  like- 
wise an  experienced  writer,  being  the  author  of 
the  history  of  "Middle  New  River  Settlements,  and 


Contiguous  Territory,"  in  Virginia  and  West  Vir- 
ginia, a  work  of  great  value,  which  cost  the  author 
years  of  persistent  research. 

This  volume,  "The  Story  of  a  Confederate  Boy," 
is  written  from  the  heart,  with  all  his  might,  and 
all  his  honesty,  and  is  characterized  throughout  by 
fertility,  sympathy,  and  magnanimity,  in  recording 
his  own  personal  experiences,  and  what  he  saw. 

C.  E.  CLINE. 
Portland,  Oregon. 


Contents 

Chapter.  Page. 

I.  Pre-election  Statement  as  to  Mr.  Lincoln. — The 

Presidential  Election  in  November,  1860. — 
Fear  and  Anxiety. — At  School  with  Rev. 
J.  W.  Bennett  in  Winter  1860  and  Spring 
1861. — Debating  Society. — Some  Recollec- 
tions of  Colonel  Qiambers  and  Others. — 
Strong  State  Rights  Ideas. — Desire  to  Be- 
come a  Soldier. — The  Anticipation  and  the 
Reality. — Return  Home. — War  Talk  and 
Feeling 1 

II.  Giles  County,  Its  Formation  and  Early  Set- 

tlers.— Its  Geographical  Position,  Topog- 
raphy and  Population  in  1860. — State  of 
Political  Parties. — Election  of  Delegate  to 
the  Convention   9 

III.  What  Will  Not  Be  Attempted  Herein.— How 

the  Southern  People  Viewed  the  Situation. — 
Virginia  as  a  Peacemaker. — The  Peace  Con- 
ference and  Its  Failure. — Geographical,  Ter- 
ritorial Position. — Assembling  of  the  Con- 
vention and  Its  Action. — Mr.  Lincoln's  At- 
titude and  Call  for  Troops. — Adoption  of  the 
Ordinance  of  Secession. — Preparations  for 
Defense    15 

IV.  Organization  of  Volunteer  Forces. — Giles  Not 

Behind  Her  Sister  Counties. — A  Company- 
Organized  at  Pearisburg  with  James  H. 
French  as  Captain;  Eustace  Gibson,  First 
Lieutenant ;  William  A.  Anderson,  Second 
Lieutenant ;  Joel  Blackard,  Second  Junior 
Lieutenant,  and  Captains  James  D.  Johnston 
and  R.  F.  Watts  on  the  Committee  to  Pur- 


Chapter  Page. 

chase  Uniforms,  etc. — The  Ladies  of  the 
Town  and  Country. — In  Barracks  and  on 
Drill. — Anecdote. — Dixie. — Our  March  to 
Wolf  Creek. — Presentation  of  Bible  and 
Flag    25 

V.  The  Election  for  the  Ratification  of  the  Ordi- 
nance of  Secession  Was  Held  on  the  Fourth 
Thursday  of  May — the  23rd.  On  that  Day 
Members  of  the  House  of  Delegates,  and 
Perhaps  Other  Officers,  Were  to  Be  Elected. 
— Our  Departure. — Lynchburg  and  to  Ma- 
nassas Junction 39 

VT.  Stay  at  the  Junction. — Organization  of  24th 
Regiment  as  Afterwards  Completed. — March 
to  Camp  Davis  Ford. — First  Night  on 
Picket. — Alarm. — March  to  the  Town  of 
Occoquan  and  Back  Again. — A  War  of 
Words. — Serious  Fight  Imminent. — Leaving 
the  24th  Regiment. — Camp  Tick  Grove  and 
a  Personal  Difference. — A  More  Perfect 
Union. — Camp  Wigfall. — Blohdeau's  Shot. — 
How  We  Cooked,  Ate  and  Slept. — Shan- 
non's Bob. — Rumors  Afloat  of  Pending 
Battle. — Three  Days'  Rations  Cooked.... 47 

VII. — Breaking  Camp  at  Wigfall. — The  March  to 
the  Battlefield. — General  Beauregard  and 
His  Appearance  and  Advice. — First  Cannon 
Shot. — Battle  of  Bull  Run. — The  Advance. — 
The  Charge. — The  Wounded. — Isaac  Hare 
and  John  O.  Martin. — Retreat  of  the 
Enemy. — Severe  Artillery  Duel. — The  Dutch- 
man and  His  Chunk  of  Fat  Bacon. — Casual- 
ties     61 

VIII.  Night's  Experience  on  Our  First  Battle- 
field.— The  Dead  and  Cries  of  the  Wounded. 
— Occurrences  on  the  Field. — Sunday,  July 
21. — Shelled  by  the  Enemy. — March  to  the 
Field  bv  the  Sou'nd  of  Battle.— The  Battle.— 


Chapter.  Page. 

Casualties. — The  Pursuit. — To  the  Outposts. 
— Incidents. — Winter  at  Centerville 69 

IX.  Our   Daily   Duties. — In    Camp. — Among   the 

Last  Rencounters. — Lieutenant  Gibson,  Cor- 
poral Stone  and  Others  Hold  a  Council  of 
War  and  Determine  to  Advance  and  Drive 
McClellan  from  Arlington  Heights. — March 
to  the  Outposts. — Graybacks. — Religious 
Exercises. — Incidents  of  Camp. — Depletion 
of  the  Army. — Re-enlistments  and  Fur- 
loughs.— Retreat  from  Manassas  Behind  the 
Rappahannock. — Albert  and  Snidovv. — Gor- 
dons ville  83 

X.  The  Stay  Near  Gordonsville. — The  March  to 

Richmond  and  Journey  to  Yorktovvn. — In 
the  Trenches.  —  Skirmishing  and  Night 
Alarms. — Reorganization. — The  Retreat  from 
Yorktown. — The  Old  Lady's  Prayer. — 
Battle  of  Williamsburg. — The  Killed  and 
Wounded. — Forces  and  Numbers  Engaged 
and  Losses. — Retreat  LTp  the  Peninsula. — 
Battle  of  Seven  Pines. — Casualties 93 

XL  Preparations  for  Active  Field  Service. — 
Dress  Parade  and  Speeches  of  General  Kem- 
per and  Colonel  Patton. — Battles  Around 
Richmond. — Gaines'  Mill  or  Cold  Harbor. — 
Frazier's  Farm  and  Malvern  Hill. — Testing 
a  Man's  Courage. — Casualties. — In  Pursuit 
of  the  Enemy. — In  Camp  Near  the  Chicka- 
hominy. — Sickness  and  Death. — Threatening 
Attitude  of  the  Enemy  in  Northern  Virginia. 
— Concentration  of  the  Confederate  Army  on 
the  Rappahannock.  —  Pope's  Bravado.  — 
Lieutenant  Hugh  M.  Patton  Succeeds  Stark 
as  Adjutant,  and  Sergeant  Parke  Appointed 
Sergeant-Major,  Succeeding  George  S. 
Tansill 107 


Chapter.  Page. 

XII.  General  Jackson  With  His  "Foot  Cavalry."— 
On  the  Flank  and  in  the  Rear  of  General 
Pope's  Army. — Long-street's  Division  Divert- 
ing the  Enemy's  Attention  on  the  Rappahan- 
nock.— March  Through  Thoroughfare  Gap. 
— Haymarket  to  the  Relief  of  Jackson's  Men. 
—The  Fight  on  the  29th.— Battle  of  August 
30,  1862. — Kemper  Commands  Division, 
Corse  Leads  the  Brigade. — Pope  Defeated. — 
Casualties. — Rainstorm  and  March  Through 
Leesburg  to  White's  Ford. — Crossing  the 
Potomac. — The  Cry  "Back  to  Washington" 
and  not  "On  to  Richmond." — "Maryland,  My 
Maryland,"  "Bonnie  Blue  Flag."— Halt  at 
Monacacy  Bridge 123 

XIII.  A  Soldier's  Equipment. — Washing  His 
Clothes. — How  He  Ate  and  Slept. — March 
Through  Frederick. — Middletown. — Hagers- 
town. — A  Soldier  in  Active  Service  in  the 
Field. — What  He  Possesses. — Indications  of 
Southern  Sympathy. — The  Return  from 
Hagerstown. — Battle  of  Boonsboro  and  Cas- 
ualties.— Retreat  to  Sharpsburg 135 

XIV.  Number  of  Men  for  Action  in  Kemper's 
Brigade. — General  D.  R.  Jones'  Division. — 
Confederate  Cavalry. — General  Lee  Playing 
Bluff  with  McClellan. — The  Opening  of  the 
Battle. — Burnside's  Attack  and  Repulse. — 
Casualties. — Re-crossing  the  Potomac . . .  145 

XV.  From  Winchester  to  Culpeper. — Reorganiza- 
tion of  the  Army. — What  Happened  at  Cul- 
peper.— To  Fredericksburg  and  Battle 
There. — In  Winter  Quarters. — Incidents  of 
the  Camp  163 

XVI.  Leaving  Camp. — March  Through  Spottsyl- 
vania.  —  Louisa.  —  Hanover,  Petersburg.  — 
First  North  Carolina  Campaign. — Heavy 
Snowfall  and  Battle. — Accident  to  Anderson 


Chapter.  Page. 

Meadows  Near  Chester. — Camp  Near  Peters- 
burg.— Gardner  Exchanges  Hats. — Lieuten- 
ant Stone  in  a  Box. — To  Weldon,  Goldsboro 
and  Kinston. — At  Suffolk,  Virginia ;  Return 
via  Petersburg,  Chester,  Richmond,  to 
Taylorsville. — John,  the  Drummer  Boy. — 
Professor  Hughes,  Frank  Burrows,  and 
Others. — Across  the  Pamunky,  Return  and 
to  Culpeper  177 

XVII.  Pennsylvania  Campaign  of  July,  1863. — 
Culpeper  and  Snicker's  Gap. — Fording  the 
Potomac. — Shooting  a  Deserter. — Pennsyl- 
vania Invaded. — Chambersburg. — My  Dream. 
— Willoughby  Run.— Roll  Call 191 

XVIII.  Finishing  Roll  Call.— March  to  the  Field. 
— Inspection  of  Arms. — Fearful  Artillery 
Duel. — The  Charge. — Killed  and  Wounded. 
—Army  Retires. — Crosses  the  Potomac .  .  199 

XIX.  Sketches  and  Incidents  While  a  Wounded 
Prisoner. — How  Long  in  the  Field  Hospital. 
— The  Walk  to  Gettysburg  and  Kindness 
Shown  Me  By  a  Federal  Captain. — In  Box 
Cars  and  Ride  to  Baltimore. — What  Oc- 
curred in  Baltimore. — To  Chester,  Pa. — Dr. 
Schafer  and  Another. — Paroled  and  Back  to 
Dixie 221 

XX.  Return  to  My  Command. — Long  Stay  at 
Taylorsville  in  November  and  December, 
1863,  and  Part  of  January,  1864.— Dr.  Black- 
well's  Address. — Our  Second  North  Caro- 
lina Campaign. — General  and  Mrs.  Pickett 
and  Baby  George. — Back  in  Virginia. — The 
Advance  to  Newbern. — Capture  and  Execu- 
tion of  Deserters. — In  Camp  at  Goldsboro. — 
Shooting  a  Confederate  Deserter. — The 
Shoemaker's  Letter.  —  Wilmington  and 
Mouth  of  Cape  Fear. — Return  and  to  Tar- 
boro. — The  Capture  of  Plymouth,  N.   C. — 


Chapter.  Page. 

To  Washington  and   Newbern. — Return  to 
Virginia   231 

XXI.  Battle  of  Dreury's  Bluff.— The  Forces  En- 
gaged.— Casualties. — The  Pursuit  of  Gen- 
eral Butler's  Troops. — Bombardment  at 
Howlett's  House. — The  Wounding  of  Lieu- 
tenant John  W.  Mullins. — His  Death. — 
Withdrawal  from  Howlett's  House 247 

XXII.  To  Richmond. — Captured  Flags. — Affair  at 
Milford. — Tom  Yowell's  Yarn. — Hanover 
Junction. — North  Anna. — Cold  Harbor. — 
John  A.  Hale  and  His  Prisoner. — Malvern 
Hill  259 

XXIII.  From  Malvern  Hill  to  the  South  of  the 
James. — Engagement  at  Clay's  House. — 
Bermuda  Hundred  Line. — Christmas  Din- 
ner.— Our  Southern  Women. — Close  of 
1864    267 

XXIV.  Religion  in  the  Army. — Doctors  Pryor, 
Fontaine  Stiles.  —  General  Pendleton.  — 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association.  — 
Frazier,  our  Preaching-Fighting  Chap- 
lain     285 

XXV.  From  January,  1865.  to  Close  of  Battle  of 
Five  Forks  — Gloomy  Outlook  at  the  Open- 
ing of  the  Year. — The  Peace  Commission- 
ers.— Spirit  of  the  Army. — A.  L.  Fry  as 
Regimental  Gerk  and  Historian. — Trouble 
in  Company  D. — Activity  Within  the  Federal 
Lines.  —  General  Pendleton's  Speech.  — 
Early's  Small  Force  Defeated  at  Waynes- 
boro.— Sheridan's  Raid  297 

XXVI.  South  of  the  James. — Battles  of  Din- 
widdie  and  Five  Forks 307 

XXVII.  The  Retreat.— Battle  of  Sailor's  Creek.— 
Captured 321 

xii 


Chapter.  Page. 

XXVIII.  To  Prison  at  Point  Lookout,  Maryland. 
— Prison   Life. — Release. — Home 335 

XXIX.  The  Conclusion.— War  Ends.— The  Re- 
turn to  Civil  Pursuits. — The  Confederate 
Soldier    349 


Portraits 

Page 

David  E.  Johnston,  16  years  old,  in  Confederate 
uniform  and  off  for  the  war.  . .  .Frontispiece 

Captain  James  H.  French 32 

Lieutenant  Eustace  Gibson 64 

Captain  Robert  H.  Bane 80 

Lieutenant  Elisha  M.  Stone 112 

Lieutenant  John  W.  Mullins 144 

Corporal  Jesse  B.  Young 208 

Lieutenant  Thomas  S.  Taylor 24Q 

Rev.  J.  Tyler  Frazier 27Z 

David  E.  Johnston,  Brigadier-General,  Con- 
federate Veterans,  and  David  E.  J.  Wilson, 
Captain  and  Aide-de-Camp 304 


Chapter  I 


Pre-election  Statement  as  to  Mr.  Lincoln. 

The  Presidential  Election  in  November,  1860. 

Fear  and  Anxiety. 

At  School  with  Rev.  J.  W.  Bennett,  in  Winter 
1860  and  Spring  1861. 

Debating  Society. 

Some  Recollections  of  Colonel  Chambers  and 
Others. 

Strong  State  Rights  Ideas. 

Desire  to  Become  a  Soldier. 

The  Anticipation  and  the  Reality. 

Return  Home. 

War  Talk  and  Feeling. 


AS  A  BOY,  but  little  more  than  fifteen  years 
of  age,  I  heard  and  learned  much  of 
the  pre-election  news,  as  well  as  read 
newspapers,  by  which  I  was  impressed  with  the 
thought  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  a  very  homely, 
u°"ly  man,  was  not  at  all  prepossessing,  some  of 
the  newspapers  caricaturing  him  as  the  "Illinois 
Ape,"  "Vulgar  Joker  of  Small  Caliber,"  and  much 
other  of  the  same  kind  of  silly  rubbish  was  said 
and  published.  Some  of  the  negroes  inquired  if 
he  was  sure  enough  a  black  man.  They  had 
heard  him  spoken  of  as  a  "Black  Republican." 

At  the  election  in  November,  i860,  Mr.  Lin- 
coln, the  Abolition-Republican  candidate,  was 
chosen  President,  which  caused/  great  anxiety 
and  alarm  throughout  the  Southern  states — in 
fact,  in  other  parts  of  the  country.  This  fear  was 
intensified  later  by  Mr.  Lincoln's  utterances  in 
his  inaugural  address,  of  which  more  will  be  said 
in  later  chapter. 

Late  in  the  Fall  of  i860,  and  in  the  early  Spring 
of  1 861,  I  was  at  school  on  Brush  Creek,  in  the 
County  of  Monroe,  Virginia,  under  the  preceptor- 
ship  of  Rev.  James  W.  Bennett,  a  ripe  scholar 
and  genial  Christian  gentleman.  I  do  not  think 
I  progressed  as  rapidly  as  I  might,  most  prob- 


4  THE  STORY  OF 

ably  on  account  of  some  things  that  tended  to  dis- 
tract my  attention  from  my  studies.  Toward  the 
ending  of  the  school  there  was  much  talk  about 
secession  and  war;  in  fact,  it  was  the  theme  of 
every-day  conversation.  Even  the  boys  in  the 
school  talked  learnedly  about  the  questions,  and 
were  divided  in  opinion  much  in  the  same  pro- 
portion as  their  fathers,  guardians  and  neighbors. 

As  day  after  day  passed  and  something  new 
was  constantly  happening,  the  feeling  and  excite- 
ment became  more  intense.  As  the  war  clouds 
began  to  arise  and  seemingly  to  overshadow  us, 
the  mutterings  of  the  distant  thunder  could  be 
heard  in  the  angry  words  of  debate  and  discussion 
in  the  councils  of  the  country,  and  at  home  among 
the  extreme  advocates  of  secession  on  the  one 
hand,  and  those  holding  extreme  views  opposed 
to  the  principle  and  policy  of  secession  on  the 
other.  This  was  not  confined  to  the  men  alone, 
but,  as  before  stated,  the  school  boys  were  would- 
be  statesmen,  and  in  Mr.  Bennett's  school  organ- 
ized a  debating  society,  in  which  was  most  fre- 
quently discussed  the  question,  "Shall  Virginia 
Secede  from  the  Union?" — the  question  being 
generally  decided  in  the  negative. 

The  meetings  of  the  society  were  frequently  at- 
tended by  some  of  the  men  of  the  neighborhood, 
and  among  them  were  Col.  William  Chambers, 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  5 

Major  Arnett,  and  Captain  Shue.  Colonel  Cham- 
bers was  a  fierce,  bold,  determined,  and  uncom- 
promising' Union  man,  opposed  to  secession  in 
any  and  every  form  or  name  in  which  it  could  be 
presented,  while  Major  Arnett  and  Captain  Shue 
were  much  of  the  same  way  of  thinking,  but  more 
conservative  in  their  utterances.  These  men  and 
others  frequently  took  part  in  the  debate  and  some- 
times sat  as  judges. 

When  I  took  part  in  the  discussion  it  was  gen- 
erally on  the  affirmative,  in  favor  of  secession, 
my  sentiments  and  convictions  leading  me  in  that 
direction,  though  as  a  matter  of  fact  my  ideas 
were  very  crude,  as  I  knew  little  of  the  matter,  not 
having  at  that  time  attained  my  sixteenth  year. 
I  had  only  caught  from  my  uncle,  Chapman  I. 
Johnston,  who  had  been  educated  and  trained  in 
the  State  Rights  school  of  politics,  some  faint 
ideas  of  the  questions  involved  in  the  threatened 
rupture. 

Naturally  following  my  early  impressions,  I 
became  and  was  a  strong  believer  in  and  an  advo- 
cate of  State  Rights,  and  secession,  without  fair 
comprehension  of  what  was  really  meant  by  the 
terms.  My  youthful  mind  was  inspired  by  the 
thought  that  I  lived  in  the  South,  among  a  south- 
ern people  in  thought,  feeling  and  sentiment,  that 
their  interests  were  my  interests,  their  assailants 


6  THE  STORY  OF 

and  aggressors  were  equally  mine,  their  country 
my  country, — a  land  on  which  fell  the  rays  of  a 
southern  sun,  and  that  the  dews  which  moistened 
the  graves  of  my  ancestors  fell  from  a  southern 
sky ;  and  not  only  this,  but  the  patriotic  songs,  and 
the  thought  of  becoming  a  soldier,  with  uniform 
and  bright  buttons,  marching  to  the  sound  of 
martial  music,  a  journey  to  Richmond,  all  ani- 
mated and  enthused  me  and  had  the  greatest  ten- 
dency to  induce  and  influence  me  to  become  a 
soldier.    Grand  anticipations!   Fearful  reality! 

When  thinking  of  this,  I  am  reminded  of  the 
story  of  Bill  Douthat  of  our  Company,  who, 
after  trying  the  realities  of  war  and  soldier  life 
for  a  part  of  one  year,  returned  home,  and  being 
strictly  inquired  of  as  to  what  war  was,  what  it 
meant,  or  how  he  liked  it,  answered,  "Well,  gen- 
tlemen, I  have  seen  the  elephant;  don't  want  to 
see  him  any  more."  And  after  having  tried  it, 
I  think  I  can  truthfully  say  that  Bill  expressed 
fully  our  views  on  the  subject. 

Leaving  school  about  the  last  days  of  March 
or  the  first  days  of  April,  I  returned  to  my 
uncle's  house. 

Although  Virginia  had  not  yet  seceded,  there 
was  an  abundance  of  war  talk,  and  some  of  the 
people  were  rapidly  coming  to  the  conclusion  that 
war  was  inevitable,  and  that  the  only  way  the 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY 

controversy  could  or  would  be  settled  was  by 
resort  to  arms,  an  appeal  to  the  King-  of  Battles. 
a  submission  to  the  arbitrament  of  the  sword. 

Volunteer  military  organizations  already  ex- 
isted in  various  parts  of  the  state;  perhaps  there 
was  scarcely  a  county  or  city  in  the  Common- 
wealth that  did  not  have  at  least  one  organized 
volunteer  company. 

Many  overzealous  persons  declared  their  pur- 
pose to  unite  their  fortunes  with  the  states  which 
had  already  seceded,  whatever  the  course  of  Vir- 
ginia might  be,  and  many  of  these  zealots  were 
so  much  afraid  that  there  would  be  no  war,  or 
none!  in  Virginia,  that  they  hurried  south;  how- 
ever, the  ardor  of  at  least  some  of  them  became 
somewhat  frigid  as  the  war  became  flagrant,  un- 
til it  is  believed  it  fell  below  the  freezing  point, 
and  some  of  them  going  over  to  the  enemy ;  helped 
stir  up  the  strife,  then  ran  away,  and  let  the 
other  fellows  do  the  fighting. 


Chapter  II 


Giles  County,  its  Formation  and  Early  Settlers. 
Its  Geographical  Position,  Topography  and  Pop- 
ulation in  1860. 

State  of  Political  Parties. 

Election  of  Delegate  to  the  Convention. 


GILES  COUNTY,  named  for  Hon.  William 
B.  Giles,  once  Governor  of  Virginia,  was 
created  in  1806  out  of  the  territory  of 
Montgomery,  Tazewell,  and  Monroe  counties; 
the  county  town  or  seat  of  justice,  Pearisburg, 
being  named  in  honor  of  Col.  George  Pearis,  a 
soldier  of  the  American  Revolution,  who  donated 
to  the  county  the  land  on  which  the  town  is  lo- 
cated. Colonel  Pearis  was  a  descendent  of  a 
French  Hugenot,  and  was  born  in  the  State  of 
South  Carolina,  February  16,  1746.  In  a  battle 
with  the  Tories  at  Shallow  Ford  of  the  Yadkin, 
North  Carolina,  on  the  14th  day  of  October, 
1780,  he  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder,  which  dis- 
abled him  for  further  military  service,  and  on 
reaching  Virginia  sought  shelter  with  some  rela- 
tions on  the  New  River,  at  a  place  since  known 
as  Pepper's  Ferry. 

The  settlement  of  what  is  now  the  territory 
of  Giles  County  began  at  a  period  anterior  to  the 
American  Revolution,  perhaps  as  early  as  1755, 
if  not  a  few  years  before  that  date.  Among  the 
early  settlers  of  Giles  County  were  the  Lybrooks, 
Snidows,  Harmans,  Halls,  Napiers,  McComas', 
Clays,  Pearis',  Peters.'  Hales  McKenseys,  Chap- 
mans,  Frenches,  Johnstons,  Shumates,  Hatfields, 


12  THE  STORY  OF 

Adkins',  Hares,  Pecks,  Hughes',  Wilburns,  Shan- 
nons, and  Banes,  who  were  of  Scot-Irish,  Ger- 
man, Hugenot  and  English  blood,  many  of  them 
suffering  much  from  Indian  incursions. 

The  population  of  this  county,  in  i860,  was 
6816,  of  whom  6038  were  free  white  persons. 
The  county  is  situate  in  the  midst  of  the  great 
Appalachian  chain  or  range  of  mountains,  dis- 
tant from  Richmond  some  three  hundred  miles. 
Its  length,  thirty,  by  a  mean  width  of  twenty 
miles.  New  River  flows  through  it  in  a  north- 
west direction,  the  chief  tributaries  of  which,  in 
Giles  County,  are  the  Sinking,  Walker's,  Wolf, 
Big  Stony,  and  Little  Stony  creeks.  Its  principal 
mountains,  Walker's,  Sugar  Run,  Angel's  Rest, 
Wolf  Creek,  East  River,  Peters'  and  Salt  Pond, 
which  are  high,  rugged,  and  precipitous.  The 
streams  are  rapid,  and  the  surface  of  the  country, 
other  than  the  river  and  creek  bottoms,  generally 
rough  and  broken,  but  the  soil  rich  and  fertile. 
The  population  in  1861  was  made  up  of  sturdy, 
liberty-loving,  hardy  mountaineers,  engaged 
chiefly  in  agricultural  pursuits,  where  brave  men 
are  bred,  accustomed  to  the  chase  and  the  use  of 
firearms,  which  fitted  them  for  the  hardships  and 
privations  of  soldier  life. 

Politically,  in  i860  and  the  early  part  of  1861, 
the  county  was  fairly  evenly  divided  between  the 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  13 

democratic  and  whig  parties,  with  perhaps  a  slight 
preponderance  in  favor  of  the  democrats,  the 
great  body  of  whom,  with  the  State  Rights  whigs, 
being  intensely  southern  in  character,  but  op- 
posed to  extreme  measures,  or  hasty  action. 

In  January,  1861,  the  legislature  ordered  an 
election  for  delegates  to  a  convention  to  consider 
the  critical  condition  of  the  country,  said  election 
to  be  held  on  the  4th  day  of  February,  at  which 
in  Giles  County  Mr.  Manilius  Chapman  was 
elected  over  Mr.  Charles  D.  Peck  by  a  small 
majority.  The  convention  assembled  in  Richmond 
on  the  1 3th  of  February,  of  which  more  hereafter. 


Chapter  III 


What  Will  Not  Be  Attempted  Herein. 
How  the  Southern  People  Viewed  the  Situation. 
Virginia  as  Peace  Maker. 
The  Peace  Conference  and  Its  Failure. 
Geographical,  Territorial  Position. 
Assembling  of  the  Convention  and  Its  Action. 
Mr.  Lincoln's  Attitude  and  Call  for  Troops. 
Adoption  of  the  Ordinance  of  Secession. 
Preparations  for  Defense. 


IT  IS  not  herein  attempted  to  record  the  causes 
which  led  to  the  withdrawal  of  the  Southern 
States  from  the  Federal  Compact  of  Union 
framed  by  the  Deputies  of  twelve  of  the  Thirteen 
Original  States,  in  the  City  of  Philadelphia  on 
the  17th  day  of  September,  1787,  afterwards 
acceded  to  and  ratified  by  the  states  acting  by  and 
through  conventions  of  the  sovereign  people  of 
the  states  entering  into  and  forming  the  Compact. 
Neither  will  it  be  discussed  whether  Secession  is 
a  violation  of  the  Constitution,  nor  whether  it  is 
or  is  not  prohibited  to  the  states  and  no  power 
granted  or  delegated  to  the  Federal  agent  to  pre- 
vent it.  It  seems  no  longer  a  practical  question, 
hence  no  good  purpose  could  be  subserved  by  a 
discussion  thereof.  Some  of  the  arguments,  how- 
ever, of  the  Southern  people  are  reproduced  to 
show  how  they  viewed  the  question  at  the  period 
of  which  I  am  writing, — especially  what  Virginia 
people  said  and  thought  on  the  subject. 

In  his  inaugural  address,  Mr.  Lincoln  had  de- 
clared his  purpose  to  repossess  the  forts  which 
had  been  seized  by  troops  of  the  seceded  states. 
reading  to  the  Virginia  Commissioners  on  April 
13th  a  paper  setting  forth  his  views  declaring  his 
purpose  to  coerce  the  seceded  States.      By  the 


18  THE  STORY  OF 

Southern  people  this  declaration  by  Mr.  Lincoln 
was  construed  as  a  purpose  to  wage  immediate 
war  of  subjugation  against  the  South ;  in  fact,  no 
other  meaning  could  be  given  to  what  he  said. 

Many  of  the  Southern  states  did  not  want  to 
leave  the  Union,  abhored  war,  and  especially  was 
this  true  of  Virginia.  She  therefore  hesitated 
before  taking  the  step  which  was  to  separate  her 
from  that  Union  she  had  contributed  so  much  to 
create.  Virginia,  therefore,  made  overtures  to  the 
government  at  Washington  for  an  amicable  and 
peaceful  solution  of  the  questions  agitating  the 
country,  which,  if  not  adjusted,  would  soon 
plunge  the  nation  into  the  dreadful  war  to  which 
we  were  rapidly  drifting.  Virginia  took  the  lead 
in  the  matter  of  pacification,  by  a  resolution  of 
her  legislature  passed  early  in  the  month  of  Jan- 
uary, 1 86 1,  recommending  each  of  the  states  to 
appoint  commissioners  to  a  convention,  the  object 
of  which  should  be  "to  adjust  the  present  un- 
happy controversies."  This  proposition  met  the 
approval  of  President  Buchanan.  Most  of  the 
states,  save  those  which  had  then  seceded,  re- 
sponded by  appointing  delegates.  In  pursuance  of 
this  call,  the  convention  met  in  Washington,  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1 86 1,  choosing  John  Tyler  of  Virginia, 
chairman  of  the  convention.  After  some  three 
weeks'  deliberation,  this  "Peace  Congress"  sub- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  19 

mitted  a  number  of  propositions,  amendments  to 
the  Constitution.  These  propositions,  together 
with  most,  if  not  all  overtures,  came  to  naught, 
were  rejected  by  the  congress  and  the  party  then 
in  control  of  affairs  at  Washington. 

On  December  20th  the  State  of  South  Caro- 
lina had  seceded  from  the  Union,  affirming  and 
claiming  that  she,  with  her  sister  Southern  states, 
could  no  longer  live  on  equal  terms  and  in  peace 
in  that  Union  and  under  that  Constitution  which 
many  of  the  Northern  states  did  not  hesitate  to 
violate  whenever  it  suited  their  interests;  and 
further  insisting  that  there  had  been  a  powerful 
party  organized  in  the  North,  upon  principles  of 
ambition  and  fanaticism,  whose  purpose  was  to 
divert  the  Federal  Government  from  the  external, 
and  turn  its  power  upon  the  internal  interests  and 
domestic  institutions  of  the  Southern  states;  that 
they  had  thus  in  the  Northern  states  a  party  whose 
avowed  object  not  only  threatened  the  peace  but 
the  existence  of  nearly  one-half  of  the  states  of 
the  Republic;  that  this  same  party  in  the  North 
proposed  to  inaugurate  a  president,  at  the  head 
of  the  Army  and  Navy,  with  vast  powers,  not  to 
preside  over  the  common  interests  and  destinies 
of  all  the  states  alike,  but  upon  partisan  issues  of 
avowed  hostility,  with  relentless  war  to  be  waged 


20  THE  STORY  OF 

upon  the  rights  and  peace  of  half  the  states  of  the 
Union. 

This  is  but  a  faint  picture  of  what  awaited  the 
Southern  states,  as  they  saw  it,  upon  the  coming 
into  power  of  a  sectional  party,  with  Mr.  Lincoln 
as  chief  magistrate,  whose  inaugural  address 
clearly  foreshadowed  war. 

After  repeated  demands  made  by  South  Caro- 
lina, and  after  several  ineffectual  attempts  by 
negotiation  for  the  surrender  of  Fort  Sumter, 
and  a  Federal  fleet  had  sailed  and  was  then  off 
the  harbor  of  Charleston,  for  the  reinforcing  and 
provisioning  of  the  garrison,  it  is  claimed  that 
treachery  and  duplicity  of  the  Federal  govern- 
ment had  been  used  to  deceive  the  state  authori- 
ties of  South  Carolina  as  to  the  surrender  of  the 
fort. 

It  was  therefore  decided  to  reduce  the  fort; 
hence,  on  the  12th  day  of  April,  1861,  the  bom- 
bardment commenced,  the  news  of  which  fired  the 
Northern  heart,  notwithstanding  the  well  known 
principle  that  it  is  not  always  he  who  strikes  the 
first  blow  that  is  the  aggressor,  but  he  who  by 
his  conduct  or  act  forces  that  blow  to  be  given. 
However,  the  shot  had  been  fired  which  aroused 
the  whole  country  to  the  highest  pitch  of  excite- 
ment, with  seemingly  no  way  to  allay  it.  The  war 
was  on. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  21 

Let  us  return  to  the  Virginia  convention  which 
assembled  in  Richmond  February  13th.  These 
were  momentous  days.  This  historic  body,  com- 
posed of  the  ablest  and  best  men  from  the  Com- 
monwealth of  Virginia,  carefully  considered  the 
grave  issues  involved,  the  fearful  consequences  of 
civil  strife.  Upon  the  best  authority  it  is  averred 
that  two-thirds  of  the  men  composing-  this  con- 
vention were  opposed  to  secession,  and  preferred 
to  remain  in  the  Union. 

A  committee  on  Federal  Relations  was  ap- 
pointed, which,  on  the  10th  day  of  March,  re- 
ported fourteen  resolutions,  as  follows:  protest- 
ing against  all  interference  with  slavery;  declar- 
ing secession  to  be  a  right;  defining  the  grounds 
on  which  Virginia  would  feel  herself  to  be  justi- 
fied in  exercising  that  right,  namely:  the  failure 
to  obtain  guarantees;  the  adoption  of  a  warlike 
policy  by  the  government  of  the  United  States,  or 
to  reinforce,  or  recapture  the  Southern  forts. 
These  resolves  clearly  defined  the  attitude  of  Vir- 
ginia at  this  critical  moment.  After  serious  dis- 
cussion pro  and  con,  all  but  the  last  of  these  re- 
solves had  passed  the  convention,  when  the  news 
was  received  that  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Sum- 
ter had  begun. 

Virginia  was  still  for  peace  and  the  Union, 
endeavoring  by  every  means  within  her  power  to 


22  THE  STORY  OF 

avert  the  awful  calamity  of  civil  war.  Her  ter- 
ritorial limits  were  extensive,  reaching  from  the 
northeast  point  of  North  Carolina  northwestward 
nearly  five  hundred  miles  to  a  point  within  about 
one  hundred  miles  of  Lake  Erie,  practically  sep- 
arating the  eastern  from  the  western  states  of  the 
Union;  hence  her  geographical  position  entitled 
her  to  and  gave  her  great  power  and  influence 
toward  a  settlement  of  the  impending  trouble.  It 
was  then  claimed, — which  was  no  doubt  true, — 
that  the  Federal  Administration  was  anxious  to 
see  her  shorn  of  her  power,  which  in  a  measure 
was  accomplished  by  her  dismemberment,  by  the 
formation  of  West  Virginia  out  of  her  territory, 
and  this  by  the  aid  of  the  Federal  power. 

Virginia's  son  was  foremost  in  fanning  the 
flames  of  revolution,  leading  to  the  overthrow 
of  British  tyranny  and  the  establishment  of  Am- 
erican independence.  Her  son  had  written  the 
Declaration  of  Independence.  Her  son:  had  led 
the  Continental  armies  during  the  Revolution,  and 
her  son  was  active  in  the  framing  and  ratification 
of  the  Federal  Constitution.  Virginia  had  been 
among  the  first  to  suggest  and  to  assist  in  creat- 
ing the  compact  of  union. 

To  the  Confederated  states  and  in  the  spirit  of 
patriotism  and  confidence  in  the  continuance  of 
good  will,  she  had  given  to  the  Union  her  north- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  23 

west  territory,  an  empire  within  itself,  out  of 
which  six  or  more  states  have  been  formed.  She 
had  furnished  seven  presidents  to  the  Republic. 

It  was  on  the  15th  day  of  April  that  Mr.  Lin- 
coln issued  his  call  for  seventy-five  thousand 
troops.  Virginia's  quota,  2400,  were  to  rendez- 
vous at  points  in  Virgina,  thus  placing  armed 
soldiers  in  her  territory,  though  still  in  the  Union, 
her  convention  a  few  days  previous  having  re- 
fused to  secede  by  a  vote  of  89  to  45.  This  act  of 
Mr.  Lincoln  was  construed  by  our  people  as  an 
act  of  war,  and  without  authority,  that  power  be- 
ing vested  in  Congress  alone. 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  all  the  efforts  made 
by  Virginia  to  preserve  the  Union  and  peace  had 
been  defeated,  Mr.  Lincoln  having  pronounced 
secession  unlawful  and  void.  Virginia  was  a 
Southern  state,  in  sympathy  with  her  sister  states 
of  the  South,  and  could  not  be  induced  to  make 
war  on  them,  nor  on  the  Northern  states  of  the 
Union.  The  conduct  of  the  Federal  Administra- 
tion had  not  only  forced  her  out  of  the  Union,  but 
to  take  sides  in  the  impending  crisis.  It  was  not  a 
Southern  Confederacy  that  Virginia  sought  or 
her  people  fought  for,  but  to  uphold  and  main- 
tain the  integrity  and  sovereignty  of  the  state, 
and  this  necessarily  meant  separate  government. 
I  am  sure  at  no  time  did  the  people  of  Virginia 


24  THE  STORY  OF 

think  of  becoming  the  aggressors  upon  the  rights 
of  the  other  states  of  the  Federal  Union. 

The  issue  was,  therefore,  squarely  presented. 
Virginia  must  decide  on  which  side  she  would 
stand.  "Choose  ye  this  day  whom  ye  will  serve," 
was  the  alternative.  There  was  no  middle  ground, 
no  neutral  position,  no  evading  the  issue.  Against 
her  persistent  attachment  to  the  Union,  the 
strongest  appeals  and  bitterest  denunciations,  Vir- 
ginia remained  unmoved. 

When  her  voice  and  her  pleadings  were  no 
longer  heard,  the  news  of  the  bombardment  of 
Fort  Sumter,  and  Mr.  Lincoln's  call  for  troops, 
reached  the  convention,  the  supreme  moment  had 
come.  The  die  was  cast.  There  could  be  no 
further  hesitation.  On  April  17th  the  Ordinance 
of  Secession,  amid  anguish  and  tears,  was  adopted 
by  a  vote  of  81  to  51. 

The  call  for  troops  by  the  President  brought  an 
immediate  change  in  the  current  of  public  opinion 
in  Virginia  from  the  mountains  to  the  sea. 

The  Ordinance  of  Secession  was  ratified  by  the 
people  on  the  23d  day  of  May  by  a  majority  of 
96,750  out  of  a  total  vote  of  161,018. 

Virginians  having  now  made  their  decision  to 
defend  themselves  and  their  state,  hastened  to 
arms  with  ardor  and  a  determined  spirit  of  re- 
sistance. 


Chapter  IV 


Organization  of  Volunteer  Forces. 

Giles  Not  Behind  Her  Sister  Counties. 

A  Company  Organized  at  Pearisburg,  with  James 
H.  French  as  Captain;  Eustace  Gibson,  First  Lieu- 
tenant; William  A.  Anderson,  Second  Lieutenant; 
and  Joel  Blackard,  Second  Junior  Lieutenant ;  Cap- 
tains James  D.  Johnston  and  R.  F.  Watts  on  the 
Committee  to  Purchase  Uniforms,  etc. 

The  Ladies  of  the  Town  and  Country. 

In  Barracks  and  on  Drill. 

Anecdote. 

Dixie. 

Our  March  to  Wolf  Creek. 

Presentation  of  Bible  and  Flag. 


ON  LEARNING  of  the  adoption  of  the  Or- 
dinance of  Secession  by  the  convention, 
the  country  was  ablaze  with  the  wildest 
excitement,  and  preparations  for  war  began  in 
earnest.  Volunteer  organizations  of  troops  were 
forming  all  over  the  state.  Why  and  wherefore, 
may  be  asked.  Not  to  attack  the  Federal  Gov- 
ernment, to  fight  the  Northern  states,  but  only  to 
defend  Virginia  in  the  event  of  invasion  by  a 
Northern  army.  There  was  at  this  time  in  the 
county,  already  organized  and  fairly  drilled,  the 
volunteer  company  of  Capt.  William  Eggleston, 
of  New  River  White  Sulphur  Springs.  Pearis- 
burg  and  the  region  roundabout  in  the  most  part 
received  the  news  of  the  secession  of  the  state 
with  apparent  relief  and  gladness,  and  immed- 
iately James  H.  French,  Esq.,  of  Pearisburg,  a 
lawyer  and  staunch,  bold  Southern  man  in  educa- 
tion, sentiment  and  feeling,  assisted  by  others, 
commenced  the  enlistment  of  a  company  of  vol- 
unteer infantry  to  serve  for  the  period  of  twelve 
months  from  the  date  of  being  mustered  into  ser- 
vice, believing  that  war,  if  it  should  come,  would 
not  last  longer  than  one  year.  Enlisting  men  for 
war  was  something  new ;  people  are  always  ready 
to  try  something- new,  and  as  our  people  were 


28  THE  STORY  OF 

possessed  of  a'  martial  spirit,  this,  together  with 
the  excitement  and  enthusiasm  of  the  occasion, 
made  it  nd  difficult  matter  to  enroll  a  full  com- 
pany in  an  incredibly  short  time.  Names  were 
readily  obtained,  among  them  my  own.  I  had  to 
go  with  the  boys, — my  neighbors  and  school- 
mates, little  thinking,  or)  in  the  remotest  degree 
anticipating,  the  terrible  hardships  and  privations 
which  would  have  to  be  endured  in  the  four  years 
which  followed.  The  idea  then  prevalent  among 
our  people  was  that  we  were  not  to  be  absent  a 
great  while;  that  there  would  probably  be  no 
fighting;  that  Mr.  Lincoln  was  not  really  in 
earnest  about  attempting  to  coerce  the  seceded 
states,  and  if  he  was,  a  few  Southern  men  would 
suffice  to  put  to  rout  the  hordes  of  Yankeedom. 
If,  however,  the  Northern  people  were  intent  upon 
war,  our  people  were  ready  to  meet  them,  be- 
cause thoroughly  aroused. 

Our  people  had  by  this  time  arrived  at  the  con- 
clusion that  war  was  inevitable;  no  settlement  on 
peaceable  and  honorable  terms  could  be  had. 
They  had  therefore  left  the  Union,  which  seemed 
to  them  the  only  alternative.  Consequently  we 
felt  obliged  to  appeal  to  the  sword  for  the  settle- 
ment of  questions  which  statesmanship  had  failed 
to  solve;  yet  always  willing  to  make  a  child's 
bargain  with  the  Northern  people, — "You  leave 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  29 

us  alone  and  we  will  leave  you  alone."  Extrava- 
gant utterances  and  speeches  were  made  as  to 
Southern  prowess.  It  was  even  said  that  one 
Southern  man  could  whip  five  Yankees;  that  the 
old  women  of  the  country  with  corn-cutters  could 
drive  a  host  of  Yankees  away;  but  the  people 
who  made  these  assertions  knew  little  of  what 
they  were  saying,  for  ere  the  war  had  long-  pro- 
gressed we  found  we  had  our  hands  full,  and  it 
soon  became  evident  that  we  might  like  to  find 
someone  to  help  us  let  go. 

The  organization  of  the  company  which  after- 
wards became  Company  D,  7th  Virginia  regi- 
ment, took  place  April  25,  1861.  The  only  contest 
for  office  worth  relating  was  for  the  captaincy, 
which  was  between  James  H.  French  and  Andrew 
J.  Grigsby,  and  resulted  in  the  election  of  the 
former.  The  following  is  a  complete  roster  of  the 
company,  with  dates  of  enlistment,  rank,  etc.,  to 
be  followed  later  by  a  tabulated  statement  of 
losses  in  battle,  by  disease,  desertion,  discharge, 
etc. : 

ROSTER  OF  COMPANY  D,  7TH  VIRGINIA 
INFANTRY. 

Date  of  enlistment.  Name.  Rank. 

1861 — April  James    H.    French Captain 

1861 — April  Eustace  Gibson ..  First  Lieutenant 

1861 — April  W.  A.  Anderson,  Sec.  Lieutenant 

1861 — April  J.  Blackard.  Second  Jr.  Lieutenant 


30 


THE  STORY  OF 


Date  of  enlistment 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

1863 

186 

186 

1865 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 

186 


— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— August 
— August 
— August 
— August 
— August 
— April 
— August 
— April 
— August 
— August ' 
— August 
— April 
— March 
— April 
— April 
— January 
— April 
— August 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— August 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 


Name.  Rank. 

Allen  C.  Pack. . .  .First  Sergeant 
John  W.  Mullins,  Second  Sergeant 
Joseph  C.  Hughes,  Third  Sergeant 
Wm.  D.  Peters.  .Fourth  Sergeant 
Hamilton  J.  Hale,  Fifth  Sergeant 

Allen  L.  Fry First  Corporal 

Elisha  M.  Stone,  Second  Corporal 
T.  N.  Mustain. . .  .Third  Corporal 
John  W.  Hight.  .Fourth  Corporal 

David   C.   Akers Private 

George  W.  Akers Private 

William   R.  Albert Private 

Daniel    Bish Private 

Allen   M.   Bane Private 

Robert  H.  Bane Private 

Joseph   E.    Bane Private 

Jesse   Barrett Private 

Alexander  Bolton Private 

Travis    Burton Private 

William  H.  Carr Private 

James   M.   Collins Private 

John  R.   Crawford Private 

William  Crawford Private 

James   B.   Croy Private 

James  Cole Private 

D.    E.    Dulaney Private 

M.  J.  Dulaney Private 

Tim  P.  Darr Private 

John  S.  Dudley Private 

William  H.  Douthat Private 

Thomas  Davenport Private 

David  Davis Private 

Elbert  S.  Eaton Private 

Elisha  D.  East Private 

John  W.  East Private 

Joseph    Eggleston Private 

James  H.  Eggleston Private 

Francis  H.  Farley Private 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY 


31 


Date  of  enlistment 

186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 
186 


— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— August 
— April 
— April 
— August 
— April 
— August 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— August  • 
-Mar.  1862 
-April  1861 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— August 
— April 
—April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— April 
— August 
— August 


—April 
— April 
1862— March 
1861— April 


Name.  Rank. 

William  C.   Forther Private 

James  H.  Fortner Private 

Jacob  Tyler  Frazier Private 

William   Frazier Private 

Creed   D.    Frazier Private 

William  A.  French Private 

John  S.  W.  French -Private 

Andrew  J.  French Private 

James  H.   Gardner Private 

Francis  M.  Gordon Private 

Andrew   J.   Grigsby Private 

Charles  A.  Hale Private 

John  A.  Hale Private 

John  D.  Hare Private 

Isaac  Hare Private 

James  B.  Henderson Private 

John  Henderson Private 

Baldwin  L.  Hoge Private 

James   Hughes _..  .Private 

James  J.  Hurt Private 

George  W.  Hurt Private 

John  F.  Jones Private 

Manelius  S.  Johnston Private 

George  Johnston Private 

David  E.  Johnston Private 

George  Knoll Private 

Charles  N.  J.  Lee Private 

Joseph   Lewy Private 

Henry   Lewy Private 

William  H.  Layton Private 

James  Lindsey Private 

Patrick  H.  Lefler Private 

Anderson    Meadows Private 

Ballard  P.  Meadows Private 

John  Meadows Private 

Newton  J.  Morris Private 

Christian    Minnich Private 

George  A.  Minnich Private 


32 


THE  STORY  OF 


Date  of  enlistment.  Name.                                           Rank. 

1861 — April         John  H.  Minnich Private 

1861 — April         Absalom   D.   Manning Private 

1861 — April         Raleigh    Merricks Private 

1861 — April         Tapley  P.  Mays Private 

1861 — April         John  Q.  Martin Private 

1861— April         John  H.  Martin Private 

1861 — August     Wiley  W.  Muncey Private 

1861 — August     George  C.  Mullins Private 

1862 — March      James  J.  Nye Private 

1861 — April         John   Palmer Private 

1861— August     Charles  W.  Peck Private 

1861 — April         John  W.  Sarver -.Private 

1861 — April         Demarcus  L.  Sarver Private 

1861 — April         Josephus   Southern Private 

1861 — April         Samuel  B.  Shannon Private 

1861 — April         Joseph  C.  Shannon Private 

1861— April  William  H.  H.  Snidovv ...  Private 

1861— April         John  P.  Sublett Private 

1861— April         William  T.  Sublett -.Private 

1861 — April         Lewis  R.  Skeens Private 

1861 — April         Alexander  Skeens Private 

1861 — April         Joseph   Skeens Private 

1861 — April         Amos  L.  Sumner Private 

1861 — August     Thomas  J.   Stafford Private 

1861— August     William  H.  Stafford Private 

1863 — January     Ralph  M.  Stafford Private 

1861 — April         Andrew  J.  Thompson Private 

1861 — August     Adam  Thompson Private 

1861 — August     Alonzo  Thompson Private 

1861 — April  Thomas  S.  L.  Taylor Private 

1861 — April         Lee  E.  Vass Private 

1861 — April  Washington  R.  C.  Vass ..  Private 

1861— April         Elijah  R.  Walker Private 

1861 — April         Lewis  N.  Wiley Private 

1861 — April         Gordon  L.  Wilburn Private 

1861— April         Ballard  P.  Watts Private 

1861— April         Hugh  J.  Wilburn Private 

1861 — August     William  I.  Wilburn Private 


JAMES  HARVEY  FRENCH. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  33 

Date  of  enlistment.  Name.  Rank. 

1861 — April         Edward  Z.  Yager Private 

1861 — April         Thomas  J.  Young Private 

1861 — August      Isaac  Young Private 

1861 — April         Jesse  B.  Young Private 

Whole  number  of  enlisted  officers  and  men,  122. 

Upon  the  company  being  organized,  a  com- 
mittee was  appointed  by  the  county  court  to  pur- 
chase uniforms  and  blankets.  This  committee, 
which  was  composed,  as  now  recollected,  of  Cap- 
tains James  D.  Johnston  and  R.  F.  Watts,  acted 
promptly,  and  the  materials  for  the  uniforms  were 
soon  on  hand.  The  ladies  of  the  town  and  sur- 
rounding country  went  to  work  in  earnest  and 
with  energy  to  make  our  outfits.  Herculean  as 
was  the  task,  they  accomplished  it  in  an  incredi- 
bly short  time,  and  we  soon  donned  our  bright 
new  clothes,  with  nice  brass  buttons,  and  began  to 
think  ourselves  soldiers  in  fact.  We  occupied  as 
barracks  the  large  frame  building  on  the  south- 
east side  of  the  town,  the  same  lately  owned  and 
occupied  by  Capt.  James  D.  Johnston  as  a  resi- 
dence. While  here  we  usually  had  daily  squad 
and  company  drill,  conducted  by  the  accomplished 
Captain  W.  W.  McComas,  then  a  practicing  phy- 
sician, who  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  Mexican 
War,  and  who,  after  the  departure  of  our  com- 
pany, raised  and  organized  a  company  of  which 
he  was  made  captain.     He  fell  at  his  post  in  the 

3 


34  THE  STORY  OF 

forefront  of  the  battle  of  South  Mills,  North  Car- 
olina, April  19,  1862.  He,  like  many  others, 
died  too  soon  for  his  country's  good,  and  his 
friends  were  greatly  grieved  and  distressed  over 
his  untimely  death. 

During  the  period  which  elapsed  between  the 
organization  and  departure  for  Lynchburg,  the 
designated  place  of  rendezvous,  and  while  in  bar- 
racks, "the  boys/'  as  we  were  wont  to  call  our- 
selves, played  many  pranks  upon  each  other,  one 
of  which  is  worth  relating.  A  sham  or  mock  elec- 
tion was  held  for  the  election  of  a  fifth  Lieuten- 
ant, the  choice  falling  on  a  very  credulous  mem- 
ber of  the  company,  who,  after  the  announce- 
ment of  his  election,  became  quite  anxious  to 
know  what  the  duties  of  his  office  required  of 
him, — which  we,  also  ignorant  of  military  duties, 
were  unable  to  answer.  With  his  consent,  it  was 
agreed  to  refer  the  solution  of  the  matter  to  Lieu- 
tenant Anderson,  who  was  always  full  of  wit 
and  humor,  ever  ready  with  answer,  and  always 
enjoyed  a  good  joke.  Upon  the  arrival  of  the 
Lieutenant,  the  question  was  promptly  referred 
to  him,  and  without  pausing  he  promptly  an- 
swered, "His  duties  are  to  carry  water  and  catch 
fleas  out  of  the  soldiers'  beds."  This  seemed 
satisfactory  to  the  newly  elected  Lieutenant,  and 
doubtless,  as  was  afterwards  demonstrated — for 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  35 

he  always  obeyed  orders  and  did  his  duty — he 
would  have  proceeded  to  perform  his  prescribed 
duties  as  explained  by  Lieutenant  Anderson,  had 
not  some  one  told  him  that  it  was  all  a  joke  and 
a  sell. 

Early  in  May  we  were  invited  to  a  dinner  pre- 
pared for  us  by  the  good  people  living  at  and  near 
the  mouth  of  Wolf  Creek,  whither  we  marched, 
partook  of  a  bountiful  repast,  and  returned  to  our 
barracks.  During  our  stay  in  barracks  at  Pearis- 
burg,  as  before  stated,  we  were  frequently  drilled 
by  Captain  McComas,  who  attempted  to  teach  us 
to  keep  the  step  and  to  cheer,  or  huzzah.  The 
latter  was  no  easy  task,  for  in  fact  we  never  did 
learn  uniformity  in  the  "huzzah,"  but  gradually 
drifted  into  that  wild  "rebel  yell,"  as  it  was  called, 
which  so  often  sent  a  thrill  of  horror  into  the 
Yankee  ranks,  and  the  memory  of  which  brings 
a  cold  chill  over  those  fellows  yet!  "Dixie," 
"Bonnie  Blue  Flag"  and  other  patriotic  songs, 
sung  by  the  choir  of  the  company,  greatly  en- 
thused us,  but  "Dixie"  had  more  music  in  it  than 
all  others  put  together,  and  it  has  ever  been  so, 
even  to  this  good  day. 

As  all  people  of  all  lands  are  more  or  less  fond 
of  "flag  worship,"  it  was  altogether  fit  and  proper 
that  the  company  should  have  a  suitable  em- 
blem or  flag,  and  the  women,  always  first  in  every 


36  THE  STORY  OF 

good  work,  determined  to  present  to  the  com- 
pany a  flag  and  a  Bible.  Both  were  soon  ready, 
and  it  was  determined  to  have  a  formal  presenta- 
tion of  each.  Miss  Mary  Woodram,  now  the 
widow  of  Dr.  James  O'Keiffe,  presented  the  flag, 
and  the  pupils  of  Pearisburg  Academy  the  Bible, 
which  was  placed!  in  the  custody  of  Jacob  Tyler 
Frazier,  who  had  been  selected  as  chaplain,  the 
flag  being  delivered  to  Joseph  Edward  Bane,  the 
company's  ensign.  J.  Smoot  Dennis,  a  boy  of 
only  seven  years  of  age,  a  pupil  of  the  school, 
presented  the  Bible,  in  the  following  little  speech : 

"The  teachers  and  pupils  of  Pearisburg  Acad- 
emy beg  leave  to  present  this  copy  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  to  our  magnificent  'Mountain  Boom- 
ers' as  an  expression  of  our  confidence  in  their 
Christian  faith  and  patriotism." 

To  which  the  chaplain  responded : 

"On  behalf  of  the  'Mountain  Boomers'  I  ac- 
cept this  book,  knowing  it  to  be  the  Word  of 
God.  I  shall  read  it  with  care  and  diligence,  and 
on  all  suitable  occasions  will  endeavor  to  explain 
and  enforce  its  claims.  Should  any  of  our  band 
fall  sick  in  camp,  or  be  wounded  on  the  field,  then 
from  the  great  treasure  of  its  precious  promises 
I  will  bring  balm  for  the  suffering,  and  point  them 
to  Him  whose  mission  to  earth  was  to  bind  up 
the  broken-hearted  and  save  that  which  was  lost. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  37 

If  the  Pale  Horse  and  his  Rider  should  overtake 
any  of  us  in  a  distant  land,  we  will  rest  in  hope 
of  the  glorious  appearing  of  Him  who  is  the 
Resurrection  and  the  Life,  and  with  whom  we 
shall  be  gathered  into  that  land  which  no  foe  in- 
vades, and  where  friends  are  parted  no  more." 


Chapter  V 


The  Election  for  the  Ratification  of  the  Ordinance 
of  Secession  Was  Held  on  the  Fourth  Thursday 
of  May,  the  23d.  On  That  Day  Members  of  the 
House  of  Delegates,  and  Perhaps  Other  Officers 
Were  to  be  Elected. 

Our  Departure. 

Lynchburg  and  to  Manassas  Junction. 


THE  total  vote  (1033)  in  Giles  County  was 
cast  in  favor  of  the  ratification  of  the 
Ordinance  of  Secession.  Captain  William 
Eggleston  was  elected  to  the  House  of  Delegates 
over  Dr.  John  W.  Easley  by  a  majority  of  234 
votes.  Our  departure  for  the  rendezvous  was 
delayed  for  the  purpose  of  giving"  such  members 
of  the  company  as  were  entitled  to  vote  the  op- 
portunity to  do  so.  To  avoid  delay  and  to  furnish 
means  to  carry  us  to  the  railway  station  twenty- 
one  miles  away,  preparations  were  made  in  ad- 
vance to  transport  us  in  wagons. 

The  day  arrived  at  last.  It  was  a  lovely  May 
morning;  the  sun  shone  in  all  his  splendor,  the 
birds  sang,  all  nature  seemed  to  smile,  and  there 
was  nothing  to  indicate  that  this  should  be  the 
last  farewell  for  many  noble  Giles  County  boys 
to  home,  friends,  and  loved  ones.  We  seemed 
to  be  going  on  a  holiday  journey,  to  return  in  a 
few  days.  But  alas!  when  the  time  of  departure 
arrived,  what  a  change  of  scene!  The  town  was 
being  filled  with  people, — the  fathers,  mothers, 
brothers,  sisters,  wives,  relatives,  friends  and  lov- 
ers of  the  men  and  boys  who  were  starting  on  the 
errand  of  war.  Here  was  a  fond  and  loving 
mother  clinging  to  her  baby  boy,  weeping,  sob- 


42  THE  STORY  OF 

bing,  praying  the  Father  of  all  Mercies  to  pn> 
tect  and  preserve  the  life  of  her  darling  child, 
amidst  the  fury  and  storm  of  battle.  There  stood 
the  patriotic,  gray  haired  father,  the  tears  trickl- 
ing down  his  cheeks,  giving  to  his  beloved  son 
words  of  comfort,  begging  that  he  act  the  man, 
be  brave,  do  his  duty,  refrain  from  bad  habits, 
and  to  shun  all  appearance  of  evil.  A  loving  sis- 
ter might  be  seen  with  her  arms  around  a  broth- 
er's neck,  reminding  him  of  her  love  and  attach- 
ment, and  her  grief  and  sorrow  at  parting  from 
one  with  whom  she  had  been  associated  from 
childhood's  days,  upon  whom  she  had  leaned  for 
protection,  and  upon  whom  her  fondest  hopes  for 
the  future  rested,  and  whose  face  she  was,  in  all 
probability,  gazing  upon  for  the  last  time.  Ears 
were  not  deaf  to  the  mutual  promises  and  plighted 
faith  of  lovers,  of  what  they  hoped  one  day  should 
be  realized.  Nor  were  eyes  dim  to  the  parting 
glances  and  silent  tears,  for  scarcely  could  be  found 
an  eye  that  was  not  bathed  in  tears  on  this  occa- 
sion. It  was  weeping,  shaking  of  hands,  "good- 
bye," and  "God  bless  you;"  and  thus  the  scene 
continued  until  the  long  train  of  wagons  drove  us 
away. 

On  reaching  the  residence  of  that  hospitable 
gentleman,  Thomas  Shannon,  ten  miles  away,  we 
found  in  his  orchard  near  the  spring  a  long  table 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  43 

on  which  was  spread  a  splendid  dinner.  After 
partaking  thereof,  and  resting  a  short  time,  we 
resumed  our  journey  towards  Dublin,  arriving 
there  at  sunset.  Assembling  near  the  station,  we 
were  addressed  by  Colonel  Pogue  and  Mr.  Frank 
Wysor,  whose  speeches  were  well  timed  and 
patriotic,  which,  together  with  the  good  supper 
furnished  us,  had  the  effect  to  dispel  in  some 
degree  the  gloom  and  sadness  of  the  morning.  At 
eleven  o'clock  P.  M.  we  boarded  the  train  for 
Lynchburg,  arriving  there  at  sunrise  next  morn- 
ing. With  us  were  Robinson  and  Hurt,  drummer 
and  fifer,  who  kept  us  well  supplied  with  music 
during  that  long  night's  ride.  Crowded  closely 
in  the  coaches,  unaccustomed  to  riding  on  the  cars, 
and  sleeping  none,  we  found  ourselves  on  reach- 
ing Lynchburg  pretty  badly  used  up.  Falling  into 
line  at  the  station,  we  marched  up  Bridge  street 
to  Main,  then  to  a  back  street  above,  going  into 
quarters  in  a  tobacco  warehouse,  where  we  re- 
mained but  a  day  and  night;  then  to  the  fair 
grounds,  or  Camp  Davis,  as  it  was  called.  There 
we  were  joined  by  Captain  Eggleston's  company, 
the  Mercer  company  under  Captain  Richardson, 
with  several  companies  from  the  counties  of 
Franklin,  Henry,  Patrick,  Floyd,  Montgomery, 
and  Carroll,  which  later  formed  the  24th  Virginia 
regiment  of  infantry,  commanded  by  Colonel,  af- 


44  THE  STORY  OF 

terwards  Lieutenant-General  Jubal  A.  Early, 
Peter  Hairston,  Lieut. -Col.,  and  J.  P.  Hammett 
as  Major.  Colonel  Early  was  not  in  camp  with 
us  at  Lynchburg  and  did  not  join  us  until  we 
reached.  Manassas.  The  camp  was  in  charge  of 
Lieut.-Col.  Hairston,  a  tall,  slender,  sandy-haired, 
blue-eyed  man,  good  natured,  but,  as  we  then 
thought,  evidently  better  qualified  to  manage  his 
farm  down  in  Henry  County  than  a  green  mili- 
tary force  composed  of  Virginia  gentlemen,  un- 
used as  they  were  to  restrictions  or  restraints  upon 
their  personal  liberty,  and  not  to  be  broken  into 
harness,  so  to  speak,  in  a  few  days. 

Our  quarters  were  rude  plank  sheds  with  in- 
clined rough  floors ;  our  bedding  not  of  feathers, 
but  of  a  little  straw  and  blankets.  As  no  one  in 
the  company  knew  anything  of  the  art  of  cooking, 
what  little  was  done  as  a  matter  of  course  was 
badly  done ;  the  cooking  vessels  consisting  of  a  tin 
cup,  camp  kettle,  and  frying  pan.  Bread  was 
generally  furnished  from  the  bakers'  shops  of  the 
city,  while  meat,  rice,  beans,  peas,  etc.,  had  to  be 
dumped  into  a  camp  kettle  and  boiled  together — 
so  that  it  requires  no  strong  stretch  of  the  imagin- 
ation on  the  part  of  the  reader  to  realize  that  we 
had  a  real  mess.  However,  "necessity,  the  mother 
of  invention,"  compelled  us  to  learn  how  to  cook, 
and  we  were  right  apt  scholars. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  45 

In  a  few  days  after  taking-  up  quarters  at  Camp 
Davis,  there  were  issued  and  delivered  to  us 
Springfield  muskets,  bayonets,  scabbards,  cart- 
ridge boxes,  but  no  ammunition.  With  these 
muskets  we  performed  quarter  guard,  the  chief 
objects  of  which  seemed  to  be  to  keep  the  men 
out  of  the  city,  and  to  give  us  some  knowledge 
as  to  the  handling  of  arms.  In  accomplishing  the 
first  named  purpose  it  was  vain;  the  guards  had 
muskets,  but  no  powder  and  ball,  therefore  if  any- 
one were  desirous  of  passing  the  lines  into  the 
city,  he  had  only  to  wait  until  the  sentry  turned 
on  his  beat  to  walk  away,  then  glide  quickly 
across  the  line;  but  when  the  sentry  did  catch 
a  fellow,  he  usually  made  him  stand  at  the  point 
of  his  bayonet,  marking  time,  until  the  corporal 
of  the  guard  could  answer  the  call  and  conduct 
the  prisoner  to  the  guardhouse.  Consequently  a 
different  remedy  was  resorted  to  by  the  officers, 
viz. :  The  frequent  call  of  the  roll,  by  which  the 
absentees  were  readily  ascertained.  This  had  the 
effect  of  lessening  the  practice  of  going  into  the 
city  without  permission. 

We  remained  in  Lynchburg  eight  days,  break- 
ing camp  at  Camp  Davis  Friday  the  31st  day  of 
May,  1 86 1,  and  departing  that  evening  in  freight 
cars  over  the  Orange  and  Alexandria  Railroad, 
for  Manassas  Junction,  a  distance  of  one  hundred 


46  THE  STORY  OF 

miles  or  more.  After  a  long-,  tiresome,  all-night 
ride,  we  reached  Manassas  at  sunrise  on  the  morn- 
ing of  June  i  st,  the  morning  on  which  occurred, 
at  Fairfax  Court  House,  a  skirmish  between  the 
Federal  and  Confederate  outposts,  in  which  Capt. 
John  Q.  Marr,  of  Fauquier,  was  killed  and  Major 
Ewell  wounded.  The  Confederate  post  at  Ma- 
nassas was  named  "Camp  Pickens"  in  honor  of 
Governor  Pickens  of  South  Carolina. 


Chapter  VI 


Stay  at  the  Junction. 

Organization    of    Twenty-fourth    Regiment    as 
Afterwards  Completed. 

March  to  Camp  Davis  Ford. 

First  Night  on  Picket. 

Alarm. 

March  to  the  Town  of  Occoquan  and  Back  Again. 

A  War  of  Words. 

Serious  Fight  Imminent. 

Leaving  the  Twenty- fourth  Regiment. 

Camp  Tick  Grove,  and  a  Personal  Difference. 

A  More  Perfect  Union. 

Camp  Wigfall. 

Officers  of  the  Seventh  Virginia  Regiment. 

Blondeau's  Shot. 

How  We  Cooked,  Ate  and  Slept. 

Shannon's   Bob. 

Rumors  Afloat  of  Pending  Battle. 

Three  Days'  Rations  Cooked. 


THE  day,  or  second  day,  after  arriving  at 
Manassas,  began  the  organization  of  the 
24th  Virginia  Regiment  of  Infantry,  with 
companies  from  the  counties  of  Carroll,  Floyd, 
Montgomery,  Henry,  Franklin,  Patrick,  Mercer 
and  Giles,  including  our  company,  the  regiment 
numbering  about  one  thousand  men.  In  our 
company  were  J.  Tyler  Frazier,  the  company 
Chaplain,  Thomas  S.  Taylor,  James  B.  Hender- 
son, the  Eggleston  boys,  and  perhaps  others  not 
now  recalled,  whose  custom  and  habit  was  not  to 
retire  at  night  until  they  had  held  devotional  ex- 
ercises, thanked  God  for  His  past  mercies  and 
blessings,  and  asked  His  care  and  protection  dur- 
ing the  night.  This  they  had  not  failed  to  do  since 
leaving  home.  Taps  were  sounded  at  nine  o'clock, 
when  all  lights  must  be  extinguished.  One  night 
at  Manassas  taps  sounded  while  the  boys  were  at 
their  devotions.  Colonel  Hairston,  seeing  the 
light  in  their  tent  still  burning,  had  the  boys 
marched  to  the  guard  house;  but  they  were  soon 
released. 

After  two  or  three  days  at  the  Junction,  we 
marched  seven  or  eight  miles  to  Davis'  Ford  on 
the  Occoquan  river,  a  stream  formed  by  the  junc- 
tion of  Cedar  Run,  Broad  Run,  and  Bull  Run, 


50  THE  STORY  OF 

where  we  went  into  camp,  pitching  tents  in  a 
field  on  the  right  of  the  road,  behind  a  skirt  of 
pines  which  lined  the  northeast  bank  of  the 
stream.  The  Occoquan  here  is  small,  with  high 
banks.  The  field  where  we  camped  was  barren, 
not  even  covered  with  grass.  Our  beds  were 
mother  earth,  our  rations  were  cooked  in  frying 
pans  and  camp-kettles,  and  we  had  to  wash  our 
own  clothes,  often  without  soap. 

Company  drill  was  our  daily  avocation,  and 
when  well  and  closely  followed  was  quite  irksome, 
especially  in  warm,  sultry  weather.  We  also  per- 
formed quarter  guard  and  did  picket  duty,  the 
latter  by  detachments  from  the  various  companies, 
under  the  command  of  a  commissioned  officer, 
arranged  by  alternate  service.  The  picket  post 
was  nearly  a  mile  in  advance  of  the  camp,  the 
small  stream  flowing  between. 

No  one  but  a  soldier  can  form  any  proper  con- 
ception of  the  feelings  and  imaginations  of  a  green 
boy  performing  his  first  night's  picket  duty 
on  the  outpost,  and  in  order  to  give  some  meager 
idea  of  such  a  situation,  the  writer  will  here  re- 
late his  personal  experience  during  his  first  night 
on  the  outpost. 

It  must  be  kept  in  mind  that  the  private  soldier 
is  supposed  to  be  a  mere  machine,  which,  if  not  in 
working  order,  may  somewhere  along  the  line  pro- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  51 

duce  friction.  This  machine  is  supposed  to  know 
nothing  but  his  duty  and  obey  orders, — the  in- 
structions of  his  superiors.  If  placed  on  outpost 
duty  and  told  that  there  is  nothing  in  front  of  him 
but  the  enemy,  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout,  and  to 
warn  of  the  approach  of  danger,  he  is  not  ex- 
pected to  ask  questions.  My  time  came  to  go  on 
duty  at  ten  o'clock  at  night.  The  night  was  cloudy 
and  dark,  but  pleasant.  I  was  placed  on  the  road 
by  which  it  was  supposed  the  enemy  might  come, 
and  given  the  countersign.  From  ten  o'clock  to 
twelve,  midnight,  was  the  time  I  had  to  remain, 
unless  the  enemy  captured  or  ran  me  away.  What 
a  long  two  hours !  The  silence  was  oppressive.  I 
stood  peering  through  the  darkness,  away  a  half 
a  mile  or  more  from  any  human  being,  so  far  as 
I  knew,  imagining  that  every  noise  or  bush 
shaken  by  the  passing  breeze  was  a  veritable  foe. 

The  long  two  hours  had  nearly  passed  away, 
when — hush!  in  the  distance,  on  the  hard  beaten 
road,  not  two  hundred  yards  away,  came  the  sound 
of  approaching  hoof-beats.  Yankees,  of  course! 
Who  else  could  they  be?  I  had  no  information 
that  any  of  our  troops  were  on  the  road  in  front 
of  us.  What  should  I  do?  To  fire  before  chal- 
lenging and  alarm  the  camp  would  be  highly  im- 
proper ;  to  run  away  without  challenging  or  firing 
would  be  an  act  of  cowardice.     So,  nerving  my- 


'52  THE  STORY  OF 

self  as  well  as  I  could  under  the  circumstances, 
remembering  the  instructions  and  countersign,  I 
awaited  the  coming  of  the  party  with  all  the 
courage  I  then  seemed  to  possess.  Supposing 
them  to  have  approached  to  within  some  fifty 
yards, — though  it  was  most  likely  a  hundred 
yards — I  challenged  the  party,  and  was  an- 
swered, "Friends,  with  the  countersign."  Then  the 
rejoinder,  "One  of  you  dismount,  come  forward 
and  give  the  countersign,"  which  was  quickly 
done,  and  the  party  passed  on;  and  you,  gentle 
reader,  may  be  assured  there  was  one  on  his  first 
night's  picket  duty  who  breathed  with  more  ease. 
The  spell  was  broken, — thereafter  I  had  less  trou- 
ble when  on  the  outpost. 

A  few  nights  after  this  occurrence,  the  soldier 
on  duty  at  this  same  post  discharged  his  musket, 
which  aroused  the  camp  nearly  a  mile  away.  Such 
excitement  was  scarcely  ever  witnessed.  The  long 
roll  sounded,  officers  cried  out,  "Fall  in!  Fall  in! 
The  enemy  is  coming !"  Had  this  been  true,  there 
is  little  doubt  that  in  the  confusion  and  darkness 
of  the  night  there  would  have  been  a  stampede. 

On  the  ioth  of  June  we  struck  tents,  taking  up 
the  line  of  march  for  the  village  of  Occoquan, 
in  the  direction  of  the  Potomac  River.  Our 
march  was  only  about  twelve  miles, — hot,  dry  and 
dusty,  through  a  country  scarce  of  water.    Many 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  53 

a  scuffle  at  wells  that  we  passed  took  place  among 
the  men  famishing  for  water.  Our  march  by  the 
route  step  was  rapid,  much  too  rapid  for  troops 
unused  to  marching  and  carrying  guns,  accouter- 
ments,  knapsacks,  blankets  and  canteens,  which, 
together,  weighed  from  fifty  to  seventy-five 
pounds,  and  which,  with  our  heavy,  close  fitting 
coats,  made  the  march  burdensome  and  cruel  in 
the  extreme ;  this  in  part  because  the  commandant 
refused  to  halt  for  rest  or  to  allow  the  men  to  get 
water.  About  sunset  camp  was  reached,  all  hands 
broken  down  and  exhausted.  Next  day  we 
marched  back,  our  boys  in  disgust,  some  of  them 
quoting  the  King  of  France,  who  with  fifty  thou- 
sand men  marched  up  the  hill  and  then  marched 
down  again. 

On  the  tramp  to  Occoquan  occurred  a  difficulty 
between  Lieutenant  Hairston  and  our  Lieutenant 
Gibson,  the  two  high  bloods  squaring  themselves 
in  the  road  for  battle,  but  the  prompt  intervention 
of  Major  J.  P.  Hammett  of  the  regiment  pre- 
vented the  trouble,  which  threatened  to  involve 
not  only  the  two  officers  but  their  respective  com- 
panies, and  which  difficulty  was  the  cause  of  the 
transfer  of  our  company  from  the  24th  to  the  7th 
Virginia  regiment. 

We  rested  for  a  few  days  in  camp  in  a  grove 
of  pines  not  far  from  Manassas,  to  which  we  gave 


54  THE  STORY  OF 

the  name  of  "Camp  Tick  Grove,"  from  the  fact 
of  our  being  nearly  eaten  up  by  the  seed-ticks  that 
infest  that  region.  Nothing  of  interest  transpired 
while  in  this  camp  further  than  that  the  writer 
had  a  small  personal  difference  with  a  great  burly 
fellow,  which  but  for  the  timely  interference  of  a 
comrade  might  have  resulted  in  somebody  getting 
threshed.  It  was  a  trifling  affair,  soon  over  and 
forgotten.  Our  transfer  to  the  7th  Virginia  regi- 
ment being  duly  effected,  we  left  the  "camp  of 
terror"  and  at  Camp  Wigfall  formed  a  more  per- 
fect union  with  our  new  regiment,  commanded 
by  Colonel  James  L.  Kemper  of  Madison  County ; 
of  which  regiment  Lewis  B.  Williams  of  Orange 
was  lieutenant-colonel,  and  W.  T.  Patton,  of  Cul- 
peper,  major. 

This  regiment  was  "formed  of  ten  companies, 
two  from  Madison,  two  from  Rappahannock,  one 
from  Albemarle,  one  'from  Greene,  one  from 
Orange,  one  from  Washington,  D.  C,  one  from 
Culpeper,  and  one  from  Giles — designated  by 
letters  as  follows : 

Co.  A,  Capt.  John  Welch,  Madison  County. 

Co.  B,  Capt.  Thos.  B.  Massie,  Rappahannock 
County. 

Co.  C,  Capt.  John  C.  Porter,  Culpeper  County. 
Co.  D,  Capt.  James  H.  French,  Giles  County. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  55 

Co.  E,  Capt.  John  Taylor,  Culpeper  and  Orange 
Counties. 

Co.  F,  Capt.  F.  M.  McMullen,  Greene  County. 

*Co.  G,  Capt.  Austin  Walden,  Rappahannock 
County. 

Co.  H,  Capt.  William)  Geary,  District  of  Co- 
lumbia. 

Co.  I,  Capt.  Isaac  Winn,  Albemarle  County. 

Co.  K,  Capt.  William  Lovell,  Madison  County. 

Dr.  C.  Bruce  Morton,  Surgeon. 

Rev.  Mr.  Bocock,  Chaplain. 

Rev.  Mr.  McCarthy,  Chaplain. 

Rev.  Mr.  J.  Tyler  Frazier,  Acting  Chaplain. 

Captain  Crisler,  Quartermaster. 

Captain  Graves,  Quartermaster. 

Captain  J.  W.  Green,  Commissary. 

The  adjutants  who  served  in  the  7th  Virginia 
were: 

Charles  C.  Flowerree,  1861  to  April,  1862. 

E.  B.  Starke,  April,  1862,  to  June  30,  1862. 

Hugh  M.  Patton, ,  1862,  to  August  30, 

1862. 

John  H.  Parr,  September,  1862,  to  April,  1865. 

Sergeant-Majors : 

George  S.  Tansill,  to  June  30,  1862. 

Park,  to  August  30,  1862. 


*This  company  joined  the  regiment  on  the  morning  of 
the  day  of  first  battle  of  Manassas. 


56  THE  STORY  OF 

David  E.  Johnston,  from  November,  1862,  to 
April,  1865.* 

Camp  Wigfall  was  situate  on  a  beautiful  upland 
grass  plot,  a  short  distance  southeast  of  Ma- 
nassas, and  not  far  from  Bull  Run.  Here  we 
spent  the  time  rather  pleasantly,  engaging-  in  daily 
company  and  battalion  drill  and  doing  picket  duty 
on  two  old  country  roads  leading  in  the  direction 
of  Bull  Run. 

Blondeau,  the  Frenchman,  belonging  to  Com- 
pany H,  caused  quite  a  stir  and  excitement  one 
night  by  firing  his  gun  at  an  imaginary  foe,  which 
turned  out  to  be  a  cow  browsing  in  the  brush  near 
him.  The  long  roll  was  sounded,  the  camp 
aroused,  the  regiment  put  into  line,  but  before 
this  was  accomplished  the  camp  was  in  an  up- 
roar, one  had  lost  his  boots,  another  his  trousers, 
another  his  gun,  etc.  On  the  companies  reaching 
their  positions  in  regimental  line,  ten  rounds  of 
ammunition  were  ordered  given  each  man,  and 
non-commissioned  officers  directed  to  make  the 
distribution.  It  was  often  told  of  our  Corporal 
Stone  that  while  dealing  out  ammunition,  on  the 
occasion  referred  to,  one  of  the  men  remarked 


*I  recall  the  names  of  some  of  the  officers  who  came  in 
later  as  well  as  men.  to  wit :  Captains  W.  O.  Fry,  Thomas 
Fry,  F.  McMullen;  J.  W.  Almerid,  Thos.  Harris,  Phil  S. 
Ashby,  Thos.  G.  Popham,  Jas.  G.  Tansill ;  Lieutenants 
Porter,  Jas.  Brown ;  Sergeants  Wm.  Aylor,  Apperson, 
Parrott,  Billy  Fray,  H.  C.  Burrows  and  Frank  Burrows. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  57 

to  him  that  he  was  giving  him  more  than  ten  caps, 
to  which  the  Corporal  replied  in  quick,  sharp  tone, 
"Oh,  it's  no  time  to  count  caps  now !"  Of  course 
no  one  knowing1  the  Corporal  attributed  his  re- 
mark to  a  want  of  courage,  for  no  cooler,  truer, 
braver  man  belonged  to  the  company.  Such 
signification  as  it  had  was  simply  that  men  un- 
used to  "war's  alarms,"  aroused  from  slumber  at 
the  dead  of  night,  would,  despite  themselves,  be- 
come excited  and  impatient,  and  especially  so 
when  they  momentarily  expected  the  enemy  to 
pounce  upon  them;  but  no  enemy  came.  We, 
however,  rested  on  our  arms  the  remainder  of  the 
night ;  and  though  no  foe  appeared,  some  of  the 
men  were  credited  with  having  seen  some  in  the 
distance — on  the  hills,  in  the  open  fields,  but  on 
the  coming  of  light  they  were  found  to  be  merely 
harmless  bushes.  On  such  occasions  the  imagina- 
tion is  naturally  fertile. 

The  camp  becoming  quiet,  we  settled  down  to 
old  habits.  Rations  were  abundant,  more  thrown 
away  than  we  consumed.  Inaction  was  not  good 
for  us,  and  numbers  of  men  became  sick  and  were 
sent  to  hospital.  Our  soldiers,  like  other  people, 
loved  to  sleep.  If  their  rest  was  broken  or  dis- 
turbed at  night,  by  picket,  quarter  guard,  duty, 
or  otherwise,  they  were  sure  to  take  a  nap  the  next 
day,  if  the  flies,  of  which  there  were  swarms, 


58  THE  STORY  OF 

would  allow  them  to  snooze.  If  they  failed  to  get 
their  nap  during  the  day  they  were  pretty  sure 
to  have  their  nocturnal  slumbers  disturbed  by 
gnats  and  mosquitos,  especially  during  the  warm 
nights. 

Two  members  of  our  company,  Samuel  B.  and 
Joseph  C.  Shannon,  sons  of  Thomas  Shannon,  had 
with  them  a  negro  servant,  Bob,  as  their  cook. 
Bob  was  noted  for  his  propensity  for  laughing, 
and  when  in  a  good  glee  he  could  be  heard  half 
a  mile.  He  was  very  patriotic,  and  declared  his 
purpose  to  go  into  battle  with  his  young  masters ; 
that  he  could  and  would  fight  as  well  as  we,  and 
shoot  as  many  Yankees.  In  this  Bob  was  in  ear- 
nest, as  he  believed ;  but  ere  long  his  courage  was 
to  be  put  to  a  practical  test,  for  rumors  were  al- 
ready afloat  in  the  camp  that  the  enemy  was  ad- 
vancing and  a  battle  impending. 

The  private  soldier  knows  little  of  what  takes 
place,  other  than  that  which  comes  under  his  im- 
mediate observation.  His  general  was  supposed 
to  keep  his  own  counsels,  not  allowing  his  left 
hand  to  know  what  he  intended  to  do  with  his 
right.  Later  on,  the  private  soldier  of  the  Civil 
War  became  often  as  wise  about  what  was  on 
hand  as  his  superior. 

An  order  came  to  cook  three  days'  rations, 
pack  haversacks,  and  be  ready  to  move  at  a  mo- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  59 

ment's  notice.  From  this,  we  knew  something 
was  up.  Just  what,  we  could  not  tell;  however, 
we  learned  that  the  enemy  was  advancing-,  and  a 
battle  to  be  fought.  All  was  now  activity  and 
preparation  in  the  camp,  and  the  men  in  high 
spirits  and  ready  for  the  fray. 


Chapter  VII 


Breaking-  Camp  at  Wigfall. 
The  March  to  the  Battlefield. 
General   Beauregard   and   His   Appearance   and 
Advice. 

First  Cannon  Shot 

Battle  of  Bull  Run. 

The  Advance. 

The  Charge. 

The  Wounded. 

Isaac  Hare  and  John  Q.  Martin. 

Retreat  of  the  Enemy. 

Severe  Artillery  Duel. 

The  Dutchman  and  His  Chunk  of  Fat  Bacon. 

Casualties. 


BREAKING  camp  at  Wigfall  Wednesday 
noon,  July  17,  the  7th  regiment  marched 
in  the  direction  of  McLean's  ford  on  Bull 
Run,  halting  on  the  high  land  nearly  a  mile  from 
the  Run,  and  going  into  bivouac,  or  rather  lying 
down  in;  an  uncultivated  field,  where  we  rested 
quietly  during  the  night.  Moving  next  morning 
a  short  distance,  we  halted  on  an  eminence,  over- 
looking Mitchell's,  Blackburn's  and  McLean's 
fords,  and  the  country  beyond,  whence  about  noon 
we  observed  clouds  of  dust  to  the  north.  Very 
soon  after  this  came  the  sound  of  brisk  skirmish 
firing,  and  the  roar  of  cannon  from  the  direction 
of  Mitchell's  ford. 

The  24th  Virginia,  7th  Louisiana,  and  7th  Vir- 
ginia regiments  constituted  a  brigade  commanded 
by  Col.  J.  A.  Early.  Longstreet's  brigade,  hold- 
ing Mitchell's  ford,  against  which  the  enemy  di- 
rected his  principal  attack,  consisted  of  the  1st, 
nth  and  17th  Virginia  regiments. 

The  7th  Virginia  moved  towards  the  firing 
along  a  narrow  country  road  and  over  a  field 
which  had  been  planted  in  corn,  in  which  field 
near  the  road,  in  charge  of  a  guard,  was  a  Fed- 
eral prisoner.     We  eyed  him  closely,   Bob.   the 


64  THE  STORY  OF 

colored  cook,  especially  observing  him  with  in- 
terest. 

At  McLean's  gate,  as  we  passed,  stood  General 
Beauregard,  the  commander  of  the  Confederate 
forces, — slim,  strong  shouldered,  five  and  a  half 
feet  high,  of  swarthy  complexion,  and  lightish 
mustache.  He  appeared  calm,  and  collected,  say- 
ing as  we  passed,  in  a  quiet,  low  tone :  "Keep 
cool,  men,  and  fire  Iqw;  shoot  them  in  the  legs." 

I  am  reminded  to  state  here  that  in  the  earlier 
battles  of  the  war  I  have  seen  men  in  their  excite- 
ment fire  their  muskets  into  the  air  at  an  angle  of 
probably  forty- five  degrees,  and  others  so  lower- 
ing their  guns  that  the  ball  would  strike  the 
ground  but  a  few  feet  in  front  of  them.  This, 
however,  was  soon  corrected,  and  the  men  took 
good  aim. 

Pushing  forward  from  this  point  some  two  hun- 
dred yards,  we  halted  on  the  left  of  the  road  un- 
der cover  of  a  belt  of  pines,  which  sheltered  us 
from  the  view  of  the  enemy.  Soon  came  the  boom 
of  a  cannon,  the  ball  whizzing  and  buzzing  over 
our  heads.  All  eyes  turned  in  the  direction  of  the 
noise  of  the  ball,  which  struck  the  house  near 
where  General  Beauregard  was  standing.  A  sec- 
ond shot  came,  the  ball  cutting  away  an  apple 
tree  near  the  house  referred  to,  causing  a  team  of 
horses  to  take  fright  and  run  away,  as  well  as  the 


•: 


Lieut.  Eustace  Gibson 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  65 

colored  man,  Bob,  who,  musket  in  hand,  had 
halted  at  the  house,  and  the  last  seen  of  him  that 
day  he  was  making  rapid  speed  for  Manassas. 
Bob  never  expressed  any  regret  for  the  run  he 
had  made,  satisfied  with  his  experience.  The 
rattle  of  musketry  in  our  front  made  strange 
music,  affecting  some  of  the  men  very  peculiarly, 
especially  John  W.  East,  of  our  company,  who, 
on  account  of  a  severe  pain  in  the  region  of  his 
stomach,  clasped  both  hands  across  that  locality, 
becoming  almost  doubled,  which  wholly  disabled 
him  for  the  fight. 

The  order  for  the  advance  came,  and  forward 
we  went  along  the  narrow  country  road,  through 
the  pines,  with  a  wild  yell,  and  at  double  quick, 
accompanied  by  a  section  of  the  Washington 
(Louisiana)  artillery,  commanded  by  Lieutenant 
Squires.  Meeting  on  the  way  some  wounded  men 
of  the  i  st  Virginia  regiment,  pale  and  bleeding, 
had  any  other  than  a  pleasant  and  happy  effect 
upon  our  nervous  systems,  tending  somewhat  to 
dampen  the  ardor. 

Emerging  into  an  open  field  two  hundred  yards 
from  Bull  Run.  by  a  movement  by  the  right 
flank,  we  were  in  line  advancing  towards  the 
stream,  the  banks  of  which  were  covered  with 
timber,  the  opposite  bank  sloping  from  the  stream, 
high  and  precipitous.    Within  one  hundred  yards 


66  THE  STORY  OF 

of  the  stream,  from  the  opposite  bank  the  enemy 
poured  into  our  ranks,  or  rather  at  us,  a  volley 
of  musketry,  which,  thanks  to  his  bad  marksman- 
ship, went  high,  doing  little  or  no  damage,  but 
causing  us,  by  common  impulse,  as  is  usual  with 
soldiers  in  their  first  battle,  to  fall  flat  on  the 
ground,  and  down  we  went.  On  the  side  next  the 
enemy,  in  front  of  Isaac  Hare,  was  John  Q.  Mar- 
tin, who  sprang  over  Ike,  leaving  him  next  the 
enemy.  Ike,  with  a  curse  and  threatening  ges- 
ture, compelled  Martin  to  resume  his  former  posi- 
tion. The  men  of  the  regiment  were  immediately 
upon  their  feet.  As  they  rose,  Lieutenant  Squires, 
whose  section  of  artillery  had  unlimbered  immed- 
iately in  our  rear,  gave  the  command,  "Fire!" 
which  command,  being  mistaken  by  our  men  for 
that  of  our  own  officer,  caused  us  to  let  fly  a  ter- 
rific volley  at  the  enemy  in  the  woods  in  our  front, 
and  this  was  followed  by  a  rush  with  fixed  bay- 
onets for  the  stream,  behind  which  the  enemy 
was  posted,  forcing  him  to  retreat  in  confusion, 
leaving  his  dead  and  wounded,  knapsacks,  haver- 
sacks, hats  and  part  of  his  small  arms.  Reaching 
the  bank  of  the  stream,  the  regiment  lay  down, 
and  there  followed  for  more  than  an  hour  a 
fierce  artillery  duel  between  the  Federal  batteries 
and  the  Confederate,  the  latter  under  Lieutenant 
Squires,  which  resulted  in  the  withdrawal  of  the 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  67 

former.  During-  this  bombardment,  shell,  shot 
and  shrapnel  fell  around  and  among  us,  wound- 
ing a  few  men  of  the  regiment,  but  all  were  quiet, 
and  continued  to  hug  the  ground.  This  was  about 
five  o'clock  in  the  afternoon. 

George  Knoll,  "Dutchman,"  as  we  usually 
called  him,  being  in  his  characteristic  mood,  but 
hungry,  took  from  his  haversack  a  chunk  of  fat 
bacon,  stuffing  himself  while  the  artillery  fire 
was  in  progress. 

Quiet  now  reigning,  we  began  to  look  after 
the  wounded  and  prepare  for  spending  the  night 
in  battle  line  in  front  of  the  enemy,  who  had  re- 
tired from  our  immediate  front,  but  still  hovered 
near  by. 

The  troops  engaged  on  the  Confederate  side, 
save  the  artillery  mentioned,  were  principally 
the  ist,  nth  and  17th  Virginia  of  Long- 
street's  brigade,  with  the  7th  Virginia  of  Early's. 
The  losses  in  Longstreet's  regiments,  as  re- 
ported, were:  Killed  and  mortally  wounded, 
15,  and  slightly  wounded,  53.  Of  these  cas- 
ualties 40  were  of  the  ist  Virginia.  Seven 
were  wounded  in  the  7th  Virginia  of  Early's 
brigade,  one  killed  and  five  wounded  of  the  ar- 
tillery. In  Company  D  of  the  7th  regiment  Isaac 
Hare  and  James  H.  Gardner  were  slightly 
wounded  by  spent  balls.  H.  C.  Burrows  of  E 
Company  got  a  musket  ball  through  his  hand;  a 


68  THE  STORY  OF 

man  of  B  Company  had  his  hand  or  fingers  man- 
gled by  a  piece  of  shell: 

The  Federal  force  that  attacked  us  was  Richard- 
son's brigade,  of  Tyler's  division,  consisting  of 
the  i  st  Massachusetts,  2d  and  3d  Michigan,  and 
1 2th  New  York  regiments;  Ayers'  battery,  and 
Brackett's  cavalry.  The  Federal  loss,  as  reported, 
was  19  killed,  38  wounded,  and  26  missing. 


Chapter  VIII 


Night's  Experience  on  Our  First  Battlefield. 

The  Dead  and  Cries  of  the  Wounded. 

Occurrences  on  the  Field. 

Sunday,  July  21. 

Shelled  by  the  Enemy. 

March  to  the  Field  by  the  Sound  of  Battle. 

The  Battle. 

Casualties. 

The  Pursuit. 

To  the  Outposts. 

Incidents. 

Winter  at  Centerville. 


RETURNING  to  the  battle  line,  we  found 
ourselves  groping  around  in  the  dark. 
Knowing  the  enemy  to  be  close  by,  we 
quietly  went  to  work  throwing  up  temporary 
breastworks  of  logs.  The  cries  of  the  Federal 
wounded,  and  the  groans  of  the  dying,  the  occa- 
sional volleys  of  musketry  fired  by  some  of  our 
troops  at  imaginary  foes,  with  the  hooting  of 
owls,  made  the  night  hideous  and  weird,  deeply 
impressing  the  nature  of  a  lot  of  young  Virginia 
boys  reared  in  Christian  homes.  The  regiment 
behaved,  however,  with  great  coolness  during  the 
entire  night,  encouraged  by  the  example,  presence 
and  good  conduct  of  our  brave  Lieutenant-Colonel 
Williams,  then  in  command,  Colonel  Kemper  be- 
ing absent  on  public  service. 

With  the  coming  of  daylight,  the  Confederate 
scouts  crossed  the  Run,  brought  in  the  Federal 
wounded,  and  quite  a  number  of  muskets,  knap- 
sacks, blankets,  canteens,  cartridge  boxes,  and 
hats,  thrown  away  or  dropped  by  the  enemy  in 
his  flight.  By  an  examination  of  the  dead  in 
front  of  our  regiment,  it  was  ascertained  that  we 
had  fought  the  ist  Massachusetts  regiment. 

This  action  of  the  18th  was  preliminary  to  the 
real  battle  which  came  on  Sunday  the  21st,  but  on 


72  ,    THE  STORY  OF 

different  ground,  seven  or  eight  miles  northwest 
of  the  engagement  of  the  18th  as  just  described. 
During  Friday  and  Saturday  all  was  quiet,  the 
Confederate  line  of  battle  extending  from  Union 
Mills  to  Stone  Bridge,  several  miles  in  length; 
the  enemy  in  the  meantime  keeping  up  a  show- 
ing of  force,  threatening  our  front  at  McLean's, 
Blackburn's  and  Mitchell's  fords,  while  his  main 
column  was  moving  or  preparing  to  move  north- 
west to  strike  the  Confederate  battle  line  in  flank 
and  reverse  on  its  extreme  left. 

Our  regiment  remained  Friday  night  and  until 
late  Saturday  evening  at  the  same  place  at  which 
it  had  halted  on  Thursday ;  being  then  relieved  by 
other  troops,  retired  to  a  pine  thicket  close  by, 
where  we  received  a  bountiful  supply  of  rations, 
some  in  boxes  from  home, — a  thing  that  makes 
glad  the  heart  of  a  homesick  boy. 

On  Saturday  evening  we  were  joined  by  Col- 
onel Kemper,  the  commander  of  the  regiment. 
At  sunrise  on  Sunday  morning,  July  21,  the 
enemy's  batteries  near  Blackburn's  opened  fire,  on 
account  of  which  we  marched  to  the  cover  of  the 
pines,  between  McLean's  and  Blackburn's  fords, 
remaining  but  a  short  time.  Our  regiment,  to- 
gether with  the  7th  Louisiana,  crossed  the  Run  at 
McLean's  ford  for  the  purpose  of  attacking  the 
enemy's  batteries,  which  were  annoying  us,  oc- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  73 

casionally  throwing  shots  into  our  ranks,  without, 
however,  doing-  any  serious  damage.  It  will  be 
recalled  by  those  present  that  while  lying  down 
behind  the  pines  a  shot  struck  near  the  center  of 
our  company,  scattering  dust  and  dirt  over  us. 

While  getting  into  battle  line,  preparatory  to 
assault  upon  the  batteries,  an  order  came  to  re- 
trace our  steps  to  the  cover  of  the  pines.  This 
was  near  12  M.  By  this  time  we  distinctly  heard 
the  roar  of  heavy  guns  far  to  our  left,  and  the 
great  Battle  of  First  Manassas  was  on. 

Near  one  o'clock  P.  M.,  we  moved  by  a  rapid 
gait  with  the  head  of  the  column  directed  north- 
west, guided  by  the  sound  of  the  battle.  The  dis- 
tance from  our  starting  point,  McLean's,  by  the 
route  we  marched  to  the  extreme  Confederate 
left,  was  fully  eight  miles,  which  distance  was 
covered  in  two  hours,  notwithstanding  the  scorch- 
ing rays  of  the  sun,  stopping  not  for  rest  or  water, 
for  want  of  which  we  suffered.  The  three  regi- 
ments of  Colonel  Early's  brigade,  7th  Louisiana, 
7th  Virginia,  and  13th  Mississippi,  (the  latter 
substituted  for  24th  Virginia)  passed  to  the  ex- 
treme Confederate  left,  reaching  there  at  near 
3  :20  P.  M.,  finding  themselves  face  to  face  with 
the  foe  at  the  Chinn  house  and  in  open  ground. 

Approaching  the  scene  of  action,  a  mid  cheer 
was  heard,  following  which  a  man  on  horseback 


74  THE  STORY  OF 

at  full  speed,  hatless,  face  flushed,  covered  with 
perspiration  and  dust,  brandishing  his  sword  over 
his  head,  and  shouting,  "Glory!  Glory!  Glory!" 
rode  rapidly  by.  In  answer  to  inquiry  as  to  what 
was  the  matter,  he  said,  "We  have  captured 
Rickett's  battery  and  the  day  is  ours."  This  was 
the  first  glad  news  we  had  received,  and  all  were 
thrilled  with  new  courage.  Cheering  wildly,  the 
men  pressed  forward  at  double  quick.  Passing  in 
rear  and  beyond  a  wood  into  which  Smith's  Con- 
federate brigade  had  just  entered,  we  encountered 
the  fire  of  the  enemy,  mostly  United  States  Regu- 
lars. The  7th  Virginia  here  formed  quickly, 
the  7th  Louisiana  and  13th  Mississippi  forming 
on  the  left,  thus  completing  the  battle  line  with 
three  regiments  front.  Nor  had  we  arrived  a 
moment  too  soon,  for  the  enemy  was  pressing  our 
left  flank  sorely.  There  they  were,  in  full  view 
on  our  front,  and  to  the  left  of  us  on  the  higher 
ground.  Here  Colonel  Early*  ordered  us  not  to 
fire,  saying  that  they  were  our  friends :  a  griev- 
ous blunder  upon  his  part,  the  result  of  misin- 
formation not  easily  explained.  Captain  Massie, 
whose  company  was  armed  with  rifles,  called  out. 
"Colonel,  they  may  be  your  friends,  but  they  are 
none  of  ours.    Fire,  men !"  and  fire  they  did. 


*See  Colonel  Early's  Report,  Rebellion  Records,  Series  1, 
Vol.  II,  pp.  555-6. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  75 

As  we  formed,  the  enemy  at  long  range  kept 
up  an  irregular  fire,  inflicting  upon  our  men  con- 
siderable loss  in  killed  and  wounded,  and  all  this 
while  we  were  too  far  away  from  them  to  pay 
them  back  in  their  own  coin.  As  we  pushed  for- 
ward towards  the  enemy,  they  retreated  pell- 
mell,  we  chasing  them  over  the  hill  towards  Bull 
Run,  considerably  in  advance  of  the  general  Con- 
federate battle  line  forming  across  a  peninsula 
created  by  a  sharp  curve  on  Bull  Run  between 
Stone  Bridge  and  the  mouth  of  Catharpin  creek. 

Up  to  this  time  we  had  little  realization  of  the 
utter  defeat  of  the  Federal  army,  the  evidence  of 
which  we  saw  a  few  days  after,  when,  following 
his  line  of  retreat,  we  found  guns,  caissons,  mus- 
kets, ambulances,  spades,  picks  and  knapsacks 
abandoned  in  his  flight.  The  only  reason  seem- 
ingly the  enemy  had  for  running  as  he  did  was 
because  he  could  not  fly. 

The  casualties  in  the  7th  Virginia  for  the  limited 
time  it  was  under  fire  were  severe — nine  killed 
and  thirty-eight  wounded,  our  Company  D  losing 
Joseph  E.  Bane,  a  brave  and  gallant  soldier,  killed ; 
Robert  H.  Bane,  A.  L.  Fry,  Manelius  S.  John- 
ston, Charles  N.  J.  Lee,  Henry  Lewy,  John  P. 
Sublett,  and  Samuel  B.  Shannon  wounded.  The 
loss  of  the  Confederates  in  the  battle  was  387 
killed,  1582  wounded,  and  13  captured. 


76  THE  STORY  OF 

The  Federal  loss  was  2896  men,  of  which  460 
were  killed,  1124  wounded,  and  13 12  captured 
or  missing,  besides  26  pieces  of  artillery,  34  cais- 
sons and  sets  of  harness,  10  battery  wagons  and 
forges,  24  artillery  horses,  several  thousand  stand 
of  small  arms,  many  wagons  and  ambulances, 
large  quantities  of  army  supplies  of  all  kinds. 

The  Confederate  army  remained  on  the  field 
after  the  battle  for  two  days,  amidst  a  terrific 
rainstorm ;  then  marching  beyond  Centerville,  six 
miles  to  the  east,  went  into  camp  in  a  body  of 
woods,  where  we  remained  for  some  weeks; 
thence  moved  a  short  distance  beyond  Fairfax 
Court  House.  Here  we  laid  out  our  camp  and 
pitched  tents,  which  was  barely  done  when  the 
long  roll  sounded  and  we  were  quickly  on  the 
march  in  the  direction  of  Alexandria  and  Wash- 
ington, whither  we  should  have  been  pushing  the 
day  after  the  battle;  for  if  vigorous  pursuit  had 
been  made,  Washington  would  have  fallen  into 
our  hands. 

The  march  referred  to  took  us  to  Munson's 
hill;  learning  on  the  way  that  a  brisk  skirmish 
between  the  enemy  and  some  Confederate  troops 
had  occurred  during  the  day,  which  had  only 
ended  with  the  approach  of  darkness.  Halting 
near  Munson's  hill,  an  order  was  given  to  load 
muskets,  and  again  we  moved  forward.   John  W. 


'  A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  77 

East,  from  sheer  cowardice— constitutional — he 
could  not  avoid  it — fell  at  full  length  in  the  road. 
John  turned  up  in  camp  a  few  days  after,  in  fair 
health  and  clothed  in  his  right  mind.  The  regi- 
ment passed  on  a  few  hundred  yards  to  the  base 
of  the  hill,  going-  into  camp.  The  following  morn- 
ing, Company  K,  together  with  Company  D,  un- 
der Captain  Lovell,  on  the  right  and  front  of  the 
hill  had  quite  a  sharp  skirmish  with  the  enemy. 
Next  morning,  Saturday,  August  30,  Major  Pat- 
ton,  with  Companies  B  and  D,  advanced  to  Bai- 
ley's Corners,  three-quarters  of  a  mile  or  so, 
where  they  engaged  in  quite  a  fusillade  with  a 
portion  of  the  Second  Michigan  regiment,  in 
which  a  lieutenant  of  B  Company  was  wounded, 
and  one  man  of  the  Michigan  regiment  was  mor- 
tally wounded. 

In  a  few  days  after  the  skirmish  just  described, 
we  returned  to  our  camp,  where  we  found  peace 
and  plenty.  Lieutenant  W.  A.  Anderson,  who  at 
Camp  Wigfall  had  been  detailed  to  go  back  home 
and  secure  additional  men  to  fill  up  the  loss  in 
the  ranks,  caused  by  sickness,  had  returned  with 
the  following  men,  to  wit :  George  W.  Akers, 
William  R.  Albert,  David  Davis,  Creed  D. 
Frazier,  A.  J.  French,  Francis  M.  Gordon,  John 
Henderson,  George  Johnston,  P.  H.  Lefler,  An- 
derson Meadows,  Ballard  P.  Meadows,  Winton 


78  THE  STORY  OF 

W.  Muncey,  George  C.  Mullins,  Charles  W.  Peck, 
Thomas  J.  Stafford,  William  H.  Stafford,  Adam 
Thompson,  Alonzo  Thompson,  William  I.  Wil- 
burn  and  Isaac  Young-. 

With  the  exception  of  company  and  regimental 
drill,  some  picket  duty,  and  quarter  guard,  we  did 
little  but  cook,  eat,  write  letters  and  sleep.  The 
weather  was  hot,  the  water  bad;  this,  with  an 
overabundance  of  rations,  and  insufficient  exer- 
cise— in  fact,  a  life  of  almost  entire  inactivity — 
were  the  fruitful  sources  of  disease,  and  many  of 
the  men  were  sick,  a  number  of  them  finding  their 
way  to  the  hospital ;  among  them,  Allen  C.  Pack, 
Ed  Z.  Yager,  William  Sublett,  John  Henderson, 
William  Frazier,  H.  J.  Hale,  and  doubtless 
others,  not  now  recalled.  Frazier,  Henderson, 
Sublett  and  Hale  died,  as  did  Alonzo  Thompson, 
whose  deaths  and  loss  were  much  regretted. 
Strange,  yet  true,  that  many  of  our  strongest  men 
fell  victims  to  disease,  while  those  apparently 
much  weaker  stood  the  sendee  well. 

While  on  picket  duty  at  Fall's  Church,  a  Cap- 
tain Farley,  with  smooth  face,  fair  skin  and  blue 
eyes,  claiming  to  be — and  was — a  South  Caro- 
linian, and  an  independent  scout,  approached  our 
outpost  and  proposed  that  some  of  the  men  go 
with  him  into  the  timber  in  front  of  the  picket 
and  run  the  Yankees  out.     Our  boys  regarded 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  79 

this  as  preposterous,  and  on  went  Farley.  He 
had  not  been  in  the  woods  long-  till  firing-  began, 
and  he  soon  returned  with  blood  streaming-  from 
his  ear :  he  had  a  close  call. 

During  the  months  of  August  and  September 
we  served  on  frequent  picket  duty  at  Munson's, 
Upton's  and  Mason's  hills,  and  at  Annandale. 
Our  lines  were  fairly  well  connected.  The  enemy, 
not  being  able  to  discover  by  their  scouts  what 
we  were  doing — what  movements  we  were  mak- 
ing, or  what  force  we  had,  resorted  to  the  use 
of  balloons.  On  one  occasion  our  people  fired 
at  a  balloon  with  cannon  shot,  and  down  came  the 
balloon.  A  short  while  after  this,  the  balloon 
was  up  again,  when  our  boys  concluded  to  at 
least  give  the  man  in  the  basket — Professor  Lowe 
— a  scare;  so,  rigging  up  the  rear  gears  of  a 
wagon  with  a  stovepipe,  ran  the  improvised  artil- 
lery to  the  hilltop,  in  full  view  of  the!  aeronaut, 
pretending  to  load.  The  Professor  descended 
quickly,  only  to  appear  again  at  a  safer  distance. 

On  one  of  our  tramps  to  picket  we  went  to 
Annandale  and  remained  a  day  or  so  with  Cap- 
tain Harrison's  Goochland  Dragoons,  which  did 
outpost  duty  during  the  day  and  we  at  night. 
We  lived  largely,  while  on  picket,  on  green  corn, 
potatoes,  and  sometimes  other  vegetables,  a  re- 


80  THE  STORY  OF 

lief  from  fresh  beef,   bacon  and  hardtack,  the 
regular  diet  of  camp  life. 

As  the  enemy  perfected  his  lines,  he  became 
bolder,  pressing  closer.  This  led  to  frequent  col- 
lisions between  the  troops  on  outpost  duty.  These 
conflicts  were  by  general  orders  discouraged,  and 
called  petty  warfare.  Nor  were  these  without 
their  casualties — if  not  caused  by  the  enemy, 
sometimes  by  accident,  or  mistake — careless 
handling  of  firearms  in  passing  through  the 
brush,  carrying  of  arms  at  a  trail  and  catching 
the  hammers  against  some  obstacle.  One  such 
accident  is  recalled  by  which  a  man  by  the  name 
of  Link,  of  Captain  Eggleston's  Giles  company, 
lost  his  life. 

During  the  sojourn  at  Fairfax,  a  detachment 
under  Lieutenant  Allen,  of  the  28th  Virginia, 
was  sent  to  the  station  on  the  railway  to  guard 
some  baggage  and  stores  deposited  there.  Of 
this  detachment  was  John  R.  Crawford,  of  our 
company,  who  for  true  physical  courage,  bravery 
and  self-possession,  had  scarce  an  equal;  indeed, 
it  was  often  said  of  him  that  he  knew  no  fear — 
did  not  know  what  it  meant — never  dreamed  nor 
imagined  what  danger  was;  that  he  felt  as  much 
at  ease  in  the  storm  of  battle  as  when  resting 
quietly  in  the  camp.  The  reader  doubtless  has 
heard  of  the  "Louisiana  Tigers,"  who  in  the  first 


.-.-■  ■:- 


Capt.  Robert  H.  Bane 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  81 

battle  of  Manassas,  when  dosing"  with  the  enemy, 
threw  down  their  muskets  and  rushed  upon  the 
enemy  with  their  bowie-knives.  They  were  a 
dangerous,  blood-thirsty  set — at  least  so  reputed. 
It  was  two  of  these  same  "Tigers"  who  found 
Crawford  on  guard  over  the  baggage  and  stores 
above  referred  to,  which  they  proposed  to  appro- 
priate. Crawford  warned  them  to  stand  off  and 
go  away.  They  paid  no  heed  to  the  warnings,  but 
persisted  in  their  purpose.  Crawford  then  re- 
versed his  musket  and  downed  the  man  nearest 
to  him,  who  fell  trembling  and  bleeding  at  his 
feet;  whereupon  his  companion  quickly  advanced 
to  his  rescue,  but  Crawford's  belligerent  attitude 
caused  him  to  beat  a  hasty  retreat. 

The  Winter  of  1 861-1862  was  spent  at  Center- 
ville  in  camp,  our  quarters  being  constructed  of 
log  huts  with  wooden  chimneys.  The  Winter 
was  cold  and  dreary,  and  we  had  some  difficulty 
in  keeping  a  supply  of  rations,  which  had  to  be 
transported  from  the  junction  six  miles  away  by 
wagons  over  a  road  deep  in  mud  and  mire. 

Owing  to  the  difficulty  of  distinguishing  our 
Virginia  state  flag  from  many  flags  of  other 
states  carried  by  the  enemy  in  the  battle  of 
Manassas,  whereby  we  had  been  threatened  with 
serious  consequences,  such  as  occurred  with  our 
own  brigade  on  that  field :  it  became  necessary 


82  THE  STORY  OF 

to  have  a  flag  uniform  in  design  for  all  the  Con- 
federate army.  Such  a  flag  was  designed  by- 
Colonel  Miles,  of  South  Carolina,  and  presented 
by  General  Beauregard  to  the  army.  This  flag 
was  about  twenty-two  inches  square,  the  field 
red,  with  blue  stripes  from  corner  to  corner  at 
right  angles,  with  thirteen  white  stars;  and  was 
ever  after  our  battle  flag. 

Again  we  were  on  picket,  Crawford  on  out- 
post, with  instructions  to  keep  a  sharp  lookout,  as 
the  enemy  was  near,  but  not  to  shoot  without  call- 
ing "halt"  the  usual  three  times,  and  if  no  halt 
made,  to  shoot.  Shortly  after  Crawford  took 
post,  his  cries  of  "Halt!  Halt!  Halt!"  were 
heard,  and  bang!  went  his  gun.  The  corporal 
ran  to  see  what  was  the  matter :  he  found  Craw- 
ford standing  quietly  at  his  post  as  if  nothing  had 
happened — a  stray  fat  hog  had  wandered  to  the 
post  and  had  not  halted  at  Crawford's  command, 
consequently  was  dead.  Crawford's  only  ex- 
planation was,  "I  obeyed  orders."  The  hog  was 
roasted,  with  many  compliments  for  Crawford, 
and  all  had  a  feast. 


Chapter  IX 


Our  Daily  Duties. 

In  Camp. 

Among  the  Last  Rencounters. 

Lieutenant  Gibson,  Corporal  Sto'ne  and  Others 
Hold  a  Council  of  War  and  Determine  to  Advance 
and  Drive  McClellan  from  Arlington  Heights. 

March  to  the  Outposts. 

Graybacks. 

Religious  Exercises. 

Incidents  of  Camp. 

Depletion  of  the  Army. 

Re-enlistments  and  Furloughs. 

Retreat  from  Manassas  Behind  the  Rappahan- 
nock. 

Albert  and  Snidow. 

Gordonsville. 


OUR  duties  in  camp  during  the  Winter  were 
not  onerous,  save  quarter  guard  in  inclem- 
ent weather,  especially  rain  and  extreme 
cold,  for  it  will  be  remembered  that  we  had  no 
shelter  on  quarter  guard  post — that  is,  none  while 
on  post  and  on  the  beat,  as  a  guard  must  always 
be  in  the  open,  both  as  to  weather  and  to  the 
foe.  The  guards  were  divided  into  three  re- 
liefs: the  first  went  on  at  9  o'clock  A.  M.,  the 
second  at  11,  the  third  at  I.  This  order  was 
observed  during  the  twenty-four  hours.  When 
off  post  we  were  required  to  remain  at  the  guard 
house,  unless  by  special  permission  of  the  officer 
of  the  guard.  The  quarter  guard  were  supposed 
to  be  the  special  custodians  of  the  quiet  and  safety 
of  the  camp.  The  mode  of  placing  guard  on  post 
was  as  follows:  A  sergeant  or  corporal  com- 
menced at  the  top  of  the  roll,  the  number  of  men 
being  equal  to  the  number  of  posts.  Beginning 
with  post  number  one,  we  marched  around  the 
.entire  camp,  relieving  each  sentinel  with  a  new 
man.  When  this  was  to  be  performed  at  night, 
the  countersign  (a  pass  word  adopted  at  army 
headquarters  and  transmitted  to  the  various  sub- 
ordinates) was  delivered  in  a  whisper  to  the 
guards  by  the  officers  thereof,  so  that  as  the 


86  THE  STORY  OF 

sergeant  with  the  relief  guard  approached  the 
sentry,  he  was  required  to  halt  and  give  the 
countersign. 

Colonel  Kemper,  still  a  member  of  the  General 
Assembly  of  Virginia,  was  absent  for  the  greater 
part  of  the  Winter.  Lieutenant-Colonel  L.  B. 
Williams,  a  rigid  disciplinarian,  who  was  left  in 
command,  endeavored  by  watchfulness,  to  have 
everything  done  in  strict  military  style ;  frequently 
visiting  the  guard  house,  having  the  officer  turn 
out  the  guard,  call  the  roll,  and  woe  to  the  man 
absent  or  out  of  line  when  his  name  was  called. 
Punishment  was  sure  to  follow  in  the  way  of 
double  duty  or  otherwise.  On  one  occasion  Lieu- 
tenant Anderson  and  W.  H.  Layton,  having  both 
imbibed  too  freely,  took  a  jaunt  to  the  guard 
house,  where  they  had  no  business,  and  here 
Colonel  Williams,  on  one  of  his  visits,  found 
them.  Layton  was  placed  in  the  guard  house  and 
the  lieutenant  in  arrest. 

During  this  stay  in  Winter  quarters,  Privates 
Mays,  Farley,  Thompson  and  John  W.  East  had 
an  altercation,  the  last  (save  two)  which  occurred 
in  the  company.  It  was  not  an  uncommon  thing 
for  the  soldiers  to  discuss  the  conduct  of  the  war, 
the  remissness  and  failure  of  commanders,  the 
probabilities  and  improbabilities  of  success,  peace, 
the  plan  of  battles,  and  the  war  policy,  offensive 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  87 

and  defensive.  A  discussion  of  this  kind  is  well 
remembered  as  having  occurred  between  Lieuten- 
ant Gibson,  then  officer  of  the  day;  Corporal 
Stone,  Sergeant  Peters,  Sarver,  Hare  and  others, 
in  the  quarters  of  my  mess,  while  at  Centerville. 
It  was  at  night;  the  boys  had  gotten  in  a  little 
stimulant.  Lieutenant  Gibson  dropped  in,  and 
with  the  others,  imbibing  freely,  began  in  a  very 
serious  way  the  discussion  of  the  surest  and  quick- 
est way  or  mode  of  ending  the  war,  and  restor- 
ing peace  to  our  distracted  country.  After  much 
discussion  pro  and  con,  which  lasted  practically 
throughout  the  night,  Corporal  Stone  submitted 
a  plan  to  which  all  readily  assented,  and  which 
was  as  follows:  To  "attack  immediately  Gen- 
eral McClellan's  army,  drive  it  from  Arlington 
Heights,  capture  the  Federal  capital,  then  pro- 
pose an  armistice  and  congress  of  the  states." 
Stone  was  for  starting  that  night,  for  prompt  and 
aggressive  action,  but  Peters  favored  postpone- 
ment until  morning,  which  was  by  this  time  at 
hand.  Just  then  the  long  roll  sounded  to  arms, 
and  a  march  toward  Washington,  sure  enough, 
began,  but  with  only  our  regiment.  And,  oh! 
such  headaches  as  Stone,  Peters,  Gibson  and  the 
others  in  the  war  council  had,  and  how  formid- 
able and  impregnable  now  appeared  Arlington, 
which  a  few  hours  before  was  to  them  but  a  mole 


88  THE  STORY  OF 

hill.  Our  mission  was  to  relieve  a  Louisiana  regi- 
ment then  on  picket  near  Fairfax,  where  we  re- 
mained for  a  week,  occupying  the  quarters  just 
vacated  by  the  Louisianians.  Here  it  was  that 
we  formed  our  first  acquaintance  with  the  "gray- 
backs,' '  which  filled  our  clothing  and  blankets, 
much  to  our  discomfort.  Oh !  the  digging  under 
the  shirt  collar,  under  the  arm  pits,  and  every 
point  where  the  cruel  pest  found  the  flesh  of  the 
poor  soldier.  It  was  a  difficult  matter  to  rid 
ourselves  of  them — they  seemed  over  anxious 
to  remain  with  us.  Nothing  short  of  boiling 
them  hard  in  water  got  rid  of  them.  The  next 
Summer  on  the  peninsula,  in  the  swamps  of  the 
Chickahominy,  and  around  Richmond,  we  had 
them  in  abundance,  the  boys  often  saying  that 
they  had  stamped  upon  their  backs  the  letters, 
"I.  F.  W.,"  which,  interpreted,  meant  "In  for 
the  war." 

During  our  stay  in  Winter  quarters  at  Center- 
ville,  there  was  little,  if  any,  preaching  or  religious 
exercises,  as  there  was  no  place  to  have  public 
services,  and  the  weather  was  too  severe  to  hold 
services  in  the  open.  The  mess  of  J.  Tyler 
Frazier,  in  which  were  Thomas  S.  Taylor,  James 
B.  Henderson,  F.  H.  Farley,  John  F.  Jones,  Wil- 
liam C.  Former,  Joseph  Eggleston,  James  Eggles- 
ton,  and  perhaps  others,   never  neglected  their 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  89 

religious  duties,  and  in  quarters  invariably  read 
a  chapter  of  the  Bible,  sang  a  hymn,  and  prayed 
before  retiring  at  night.  These  men,  by  their 
upright  conduct,  observance  of  their  religious 
duties,  their  Christian  character  and  conversation, 
had  great  influence  over  their  comrades,  and 
especially  upon  the  conduct  and  morals  of  the 
company. 

The  expiration  of  the  term  of  service,  twelve 
months,  of  most  of  the  men  was  rapidly  approach- 
ing; the  ranks  having  been  much  depleted  by 
sickness,  death  and  other  causes.  No  adequate 
provision  had  yet  been  made  for  the  retention 
of  those  already  in  the  field,  or  for  the  filling  of 
the  ranks.  It  was  evident  that  if  the  war  was 
to  be  prolonged,  and  the  contest  maintained,  we 
must  have  an  army.  With  one  year's  service  many 
were  satisfied;  the  fever  had  worn  off,  enthus- 
iasm was  on  the  wane.  The  government,  to 
induce  re-enlistment,  was  offering  fifty  dollars 
bounty  and  thirty-day  furlough.  Quite  a  num- 
ber availed  themselves  of  an  opportunity  to  go 
home  by  accepting  the  bounty  and  re-enlisting. 
Some  eighteen  of  Company  D  took  advantage 
of  the  offer,  among  them  E.  M.  Stone,  John  D. 
Hare,  J.  W,  Mullins,  A.  L.  Fry,  J.  W.  Hight, 
John  W.  East,  R.  H.  Bane,  J.  B.  Young,  Tom 
Young,  W.  H.  Layton,  Tom  Davenport,  John 


90  THE  STORY  OF 

Palmer,  and  the  writer.  Tom  Young,  Daven- 
port, Layton  and  Palmer  never  returned — 
deserted. 

On  our  return  to  the  army  we  were  accom- 
panied by  Christian  Minnich,  who  enlisted  in 
the  company,  having  two  sons  therein.  The 
question  of  re-enlistment  was  soon  settled  by  an 
act  of  Congress,  which  placed  every  man  in  the 
Confederate  states  between  the  ages  of  18  and 
35  in  the  army  for  three  years,  or  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  retaining  all  that  were  under  18  and 
over  45  for  ninety  days,  continuing  the  organiza- 
tions then  existing,  with  the  right  to  elect  regi- 
mental and  company  officers. 

March  I,  or  thereabouts,  in  1862,  the  enemy 
began  to  push  his  lines  closer  up,  and  to  make 
more  frequent  reconnaissances,  and  to  extend  his 
lines  toward  Aquia  Creek  on  the  Potomac,  on 
the  right  flank  of  the  Confederate  army,  caus- 
ing our  commander  uneasiness,  no  doubt,  as  to 
the  tenableness  of  our  position,  and  hence  on  or 
about  the  iothl  of  the  month  orders  were  issued 
to  cook  rations,  and  be  prepared  to  march.  The 
movement  began  three  days  later,  with  the  head 
of  the  column  directed  toward  Warrenton  and 
the  Rappahannock  River,  which  was  crossed  the 
second  or  third  day.  At  Centerville  we  left  burn- 
ing immense  quantities  of  provisions  and  army 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  91 

supplies,  of  which  later  we  stood  in  dire  need, 
the  inadequacy  of  transportation  being  the  excuse 
for  the  destruction. 

At  a  point  either  in  Culpeper  or  Rappahannock, 
near  where  we  one  night  encamped,  was  a  dis- 
tillery, of  which  some  of  our  men  took  possession, 
procuring  Old  Man  Riley  Albert  to  make  a  run 
of  applejack,  with  which  they  tanked  up,  then 
filled  their  canteens,  with  no  way  to  transport 
the  residue.  Harry  Snidow  and  others  from  a 
nearby  store  procured  jars,  with  which  they 
trudged  along  until  the  jars  were  emptied.  No 
one  was  drunk,  but  the  boys  were  happy  and  jolly. 

Gordonsville,  in  Orange  County,  near  the  junc- 
tion of  what  was  then  the  Central  and  Orange 
and  Alexandria  railroad,  was  reached,  where  we 
went  into  camp. 


Chapter  X 


The  Stay  Near  Gordonsville. 
The  March  to  Richmond  and  Journey  to  York- 
town. 

In  the  Trenches. 

Skirmishing"  and  Night  Alarms. 

Reorganization. 

The  Retreat  from  Yorktown. 

The  Old  Lady's  Prayer. 

Battle  of  Williamsburg. 

The  Killed  and  Wounded. 

Forces  and  Numbers  Engaged  and  Losses. 

Retreat  up  the  Peninsula. 

Battle  of  Seven  Pines. 

Casualties. 


OUR  stay  in  the  vicinity  of  Gordonsville  was 
of  short  duration — only  for  a  few  days — 
for  on  or  about  April  I  we  set  out  for 
Richmond,  distant  about  seventy-five  miles.  The 
route  taken  lay  through  the  counties  of  Louisa, 
Hanover  and  Henrico,  a  low,  flat,  swampy  ter- 
ritory, and  in  March  and  April  knee  deep  in  mud. 
The  people  along  this  march  were  unaccustomed 
to  seeing  large  bodies  of  armed  men  marching. 
The  negroes,  especially,  gazed  upon  us  with  seem- 
ing astonishment.  How  long  we  were  making 
this  march  to  the  capital  city  is  not  now  recol- 
lected, but  as  we  carried  heavy  burdens  at  that 
day,  it  is  probable  we  did  not  reach  Richmond 
before  the  8th  or  9th  of  April. 

On  the  10th  of  the  month  last  mentioned,  the 
7th  regiment  left  Richmond  aboard  a  steamer 
on  the  James  River,  disembarking  at  King's 
Landing,  ten  miles  from  Yorktown,  inland, 
whither  we  marched  the  evening  of  our  debarka- 
tion. We  took  position  in  and  near  the  trenches 
for  the  purpose  of  preventing  the  Federal  army 
from  marching  up  the  peninsula.  Now  and  then 
a  brisk  skirmish  would  occur  on  some  part  of  the 
lines,  scarcely  a  night  passing  without  picket  fir- 
ing and  alarms;  one  of  which  occurred  during 


96  THE  STORY  OF 

a  heavy  rainstorm,  in  which  the  men  stood  to 
their  guns  throughout  the  night  and  were  thor- 
oughly drenched  by  the  rain. 

The  time  for  reorganization  of  the  army  had 
arrived,  and  this  was  accomplished  quietly  on 
Saturday,  April  26,  1862,  in  the  face  of  the 
enemy.  Before  giving  in  detail  the  result  of  the 
reorganization,  will  state  that  a  very  decided 
change  had  taken  place  among  the  men  as  to 
their  estimates  of  the  character  and  ability  of 
their  officers,  field  and  company.  Many  were 
moved  by  their  dislikes  and  prejudices,  engen- 
dered by  contact  in  their  first  year's  service, 
against  officers  who  had  endeavored  to  enforce 
obedience  and  strict  military  discipline,  prompted 
by  no  other  motive  than  the  good  of  the  service; 
yet  these  acts,  done  in  accordance  with  military 
law,  and  inspired  by  patriotism,  were  often  mis- 
construed by  men  born  freemen,  wholly  unaccus- 
tomed to  having  restraints  placed  upon  their  per- 
sonal liberty;  such  acts,  the  exercise  of  such 
authority,  being  regarded  by  our  volunteer  citi- 
zen soldiery  as  tyrannical.  Consequently  those 
who  had  been  foremost  in  rushing  to  the  coun- 
try's rescue  in  the  early  days  of  her  peril,  bravely 
leading  their  men  to  the  forefront  of  the  battle, 
were  displaced,  to  the  detriment  of  the  service; 
but  patriotic  and  good  men  are  oftentimes  only 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  97 

human.    The  organization  was,  however,  effected 
apparently  without  injury  to  the  public  service. 

Captain  James  H.  French,  of  my  company, 
was  taken  sick  on  the  march  from  the  Rappahan- 
nock, and  was  left  in  Richmond;  consequently  he 
was  not  present  at  the  reorganization,  and  per- 
haps was  not  a  candidate  for  re-election.  Had 
he  been  present  and  a  candidate,  it  is  more  than 
probable  he  would  have  been  again  chosen  captain 
without  opposition,  as  no  one  could  have  had 
any  personal  grievance  against  him.  He  had 
proven  himself  a  man  of  unflinching  courage,  and 
as  much  in  this  respect  could  be  said  of  the  other 
company  officers.  Save  one,  Lieutenant  Joel 
Blackard,  all  were  displaced.  Blackard,  in  the 
reorganization,  was  elected  captain;  Sergeant  R. 
H.  Bane,  first  lieutenant;  Orderly  Sergeant  John 
W.  Mullins,  second  lieutenant;  Corporal  E.  M. 
Stone,  third  lieutenant.  The  non-commissioned 
officers  elected  were :  A.  L.  Fry,  first  sergeant  ; 
W.  H.  H.  Snidow,  second  sergeant;  William  D. 
Peters,  third  sergeant;  Joseph  C.  Shannon,  fourth 
sergeant;  this  scribe,  fifth  sergeant;  A.  J.  Thomp- 
son, first  corporal ;  Daniel  Bish,  second  corporal ; 
George  C.  Mullins,  third  corporal,  and  J.  B. 
Young,  fourth  corporal. 

%  Comment  as  to  the  choice  of  the  men  will  not 
here  be  made,  nor  the  character  of  the  new  of- 


98  THE  STORY  OF 

ficers,  as  ample  opportunity  will  be  afforded  in 
these  pages  to  judge  their  conduct.  It  suffices 
to  say  now  that  the  company  had  no  cause  for 
regTet. 

Of  the  regimental  officers,  Colonel  James  L. 
Kemper  was  chosen  to  succeed,  himself;  Major 
W.  T.  Patton  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel; 
Adjutant  C.  C.  Flowerree,  major;  Lieutenant 
Starke  was  appointed  adjutant ;  George  S.  Tansill, 
sergeant-major.  Dr.  C.  B.  Morton  was  regi- 
mental surgeon,  with  Dr.  Oliver  assistant,  and 
upon  the  promotion  of  Dr.  Morton  to  brigade 
surgeon,.  Dr.  Oliver  became  regimental  surgeon, 
with  Dr.  Worthington  as  assistant. 

As  recollected,  Company  H,  from  the  District 
of  Columbia,  having  served  its  one  year,  for 
which  it  had  enlisted,  disbanded  shortly  after  re- 
organization. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Lewis  B.  Williams,  than 
whom  no  braver  man  wore  the  gray,  was  elected 
colonel  of  the  ist  Virginia  regiment.  Prior  to 
the  battles  of  Bull  Run  and  Manassas,  the  7th 
regiment  had  been  brigaded  with  the  24th  Vir- 
ginia and  7th  Louisiana,  under  Colonel  J.  A. 
Early.  After  these  battles,  we  were  commanded 
by  General  Ewell.  Subsequently,  the  ist,  7th, 
nth  and  17th  Virginia  regiments  formed  Gen- 
eral Longstreet's  brigade.     On  reaching  York- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  99 

town,  Brigadier-General  A.  P.  Hill  became  our 
brigade  commander,  General  Longstreet  having 
been  made  a  major-general,  to  whose  division  our 
brigade  was  attached. 

At  this  juncture  we  were  still  at  Yorktown, 
with  the  enemy  bold  and  threatening  in  our  front. 
It  was  evident,  therefore,  that  a  collision  was 
imminent,  either  where  we  were  or  near  by.  The 
order  came  to  move  on  Saturday  evening,  May  3. 
We  were  soon  on  the  road,  in  the  mud,  flounder- 
ing and  pushing  toward  Williamsburg,  about 
twelve  miles  distant,  reaching  there  early  next 
morning,  after  an  all  night  march.  The  com- 
mand halted  in  front  of  the  grounds  of  the  East- 
ern Hospital  for  the  Insane.  The  enemy,  evi- 
dently determined  we  should  not  get  away  with- 
out trouble,  followed  closely,  skirmishing  briskly 
with  the  rear  guard,  which  was  continued 
throughout  the  afternoon.  Then  came  the  monot- 
onous standing  in  line  of  battle  from  early  dawn 
till  near  midday — a  thing  that  always  tries  the 
patience  of  a  soldier.  The  booming  of  artillery, 
and  the  rattling  of  small  arms  could  be  dis- 
tinctly heard.  As  we  passed  over  the  street  lead- 
ing to  William  and  Alary  College,  an  elderly  lady 
appeared  on  her  porch,  with  clasped  hands  and 
eyes  lifted  heavenward,  uttering  for  us,  in  simple, 


100  THE  STORY  OF 

pathetic  tones,  a  prayer  to  God  for  the  protection 
of  our  lives  in  the  coming  conflict. 

Beyond  the  College  the  column  filed  to  the 
right  into  an  open  field,  piled  baggage,  and  then 
in  battle  line  moved  forward  into  the  timber, 
receiving  as  we  entered  therein  a  shower  of  balls 
at  close  range,  wounding  a  number  of  men.  This 
onslaught  was  answered  by  a  charge  from  us, 
which  broke  up  the  lines  of  the  enemy,  consist- 
ing in  part  of  New  York  regiments,  and  drove 
him  for  more  than  a  half  mile  through  the  woods 
into  a  body  of  fallen  timber,  in  which  was  en- 
countered a  fresh  line  of  battle.  Some  doubt  at 
first  existed  as  to  who  these  people  were.  This 
was  settled  by  the  unfurling  of  their  flag.  At 
close  quarters,  the  fight  was  desperate  for  more 
than  two  hours,  in  which  our  ammunition  was 
expended,  when  General  A.  P.  Hill  ordered  a 
charge  with  fixed  bayonets,  upon  which  the 
enemy  (New  Jersey  men)  were  driven  from  the 
field;  for  a  hand-to-hand  charge  is  something 
fearful  to  contemplate.  Being  relieved  by  other 
troops,  Hill's  brigade  retired  to  the  line  from 
which  it  had  moved  in  the  charge,  from  whence 
we  withdrew  during  the  night,  continuing  the 
retreat;  for  it  will  be  remembered  that  the  task 
in  hand  for  us  was  the  holding  in  check  of  the 
enemy — a  force  vastly  superior  to  our  own.     In 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  101 

this  day's  work  I  fired  36  charges,  by  which 
my  shoulder  was  pounded  so  that  it  was  for  a 
time  completely  disabled.  This  battle  was  fought 
for  a  safe  retreat  for  our  trains  and  for  the  army, 
and  accomplished  this  purpose.  We  had  beaten 
the  enemy  in  our  center,  and  on  the  right  wing, 
while  a  portion,  two  regiments,  of  General  Early's 
brigade  had  been  repulsed  by  General  Hancock's 
Federal  brigade. 

The  forces  engaged  were,  as  stated  by  General 
Longstreet:  Federals,  12,000;  Confederates, 
9,000.  The  casualties :  Federal,  2,288 ;  Confed- 
erate, 1,565.  This  engagement  was  called  the 
Battle  of  Williamsburg,  and  will  be  remembered 
by  the  survivors  whose  eyes  may  fall  upon  these 
lines. 

In  Hill's  brigade  the  loss  was  326,  of  which 
67  were  killed,  245  wounded,  14  missing.  The 
7th  Virginia  lost  13  killed,  64  wounded,  aggre- 
gate yy.  In  Company  D,  of  the  7th  Virginia. 
the  loss  was  one  killed,  14  wounded,  as  follows: 
Killed,  William  H.  Stafford;  wounded,  Lieuten- 
ant E.  M.  Stone,  and  the  following  men  of  the 
line:  Allen  M.  Bane,  Charles  W.  Peck,  Andrew 
J.  Thompson,  John  A.  Hale,  John  W.  East.  Isaac 
Hare,  George  Knoll,  Anderson  Meadows,  De- 
marcus  Sarver,  William  I.  Wilburn,  Edward  Z. 
Yager,    John    Meadows,    and    the   writer — who 


102  THE  STORY  OF 

knows  what  it  is  to  have  a  hot  buckshot  in  his 
hand.  Baldwin  L.  Hoge  had  the  belt  of  his  cart- 
ridge box  severed  and  cut  from  the  belt;  several 
of  the  men  had  holes  shot  through  their  clothing. 
Sergeant  Tapley  P.  Mays,  of  Company  D,  the 
ensign  of  the  regiment,  who  bore  the  flag  aloft 
throughout  the  battle,  had  the  staff  severed  three 
times  and  the  flag  pierced  by  twenty-three  balls, 
Mays  escaping  unscathed.  For  his  gallant  con- 
duct on  this  field,  he  received  the  thanks  of  the 
commandant  of  the  regiment,  and  his  conduct 
was  made  the  subject  matter  of  a  complimentary 
letter  to  him  from  the  Governor  of  the  state, 
promising  that  he  should  receive  a  fine  sword  for 
his  gallant  conduct. 

The  mud  was  deep,  the  movement  slow,  and 
when  morning  dawned  we  were  only  a  few  miles 
from  the  battlefield,  halting  occasionally  in  battle 
line  in  order  to  hold  the  enemy  in  check  until  our 
long  train  of  wagons  and  artillery  could  get  away. 
It  must  not  be  supposed  that  because  we  were 
wearied,  covered  with  mud  and  hungry,  that  we 
were  dispirited  and  gloomy.  Such  mental  con- 
ditions could  not  then  well  exist  among  such  a 
jolly  set  of  fellows,  for  we  had  in  each  company 
one  or  more  who  would  have  their  amusement, 
in  a  joke,  a  laugh,  or  a  song,  especially  Bolton 
and  George  Knoll   (the  Dutchman),  who  were 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  103 

clownish  and  full  of  fun.  In  passing-  along  the 
roads  and  through  the  towns  and  villages,  if  a 
citizen  with  a  high  silk  hat  appeared,  these  clowns 
would  call  out:  "Mister,  come  out  of  that  hat; 
I  know  you  are  in  there,  for  I  see  your  feet!" 
Another  would  likely  call  out :  "Mister,  my  bees 
are  swarming;  lend  me  your  hat  to  hive  them  in." 
They  sometimes  ran  across  a  man  with  high  top 
boots.  Then  it  was :  "Come  out  of  them  boots ! 
I  know  you  are  in  them,  for  I  see  your  head 
above."  Occasionally  they  were  paid  back  in 
their  own  coin.  An  old  preacher,  white-haired, 
with  long  white  flowing  beard,  one  day  rode  into 
camp,  when  one  of  these  wags  called  out :  "Boys, 
here  is  old  Father  Abraham,"  whereupon  the  old 
preacher  said:  "Young  men,  you  are  mistaken. 
I  am  Saul,  the  son  of  Kish,  searching  for  his 
father's  asses,  and  I  have  found  them."  The 
preacher  had  won,  and  nobody  enjoyed  the  joke 
better  than  the  fellows  who  had  been  beaten  at 
their  own  game. 

The  Chickahominy  was  crossed  by  our  troops 
May  9,  when  we  went  into  camp  at  Clark's  farm, 
and  later  near  Howard's  Grove,  on  higher  and 
dryer  ground,  with  better  water.  Here  inactivity 
and  hot  weather  brought  on  much  sickness.  It 
was  from  this  camp  that  A.  L.  Sumner  of  Com- 
pany D  took  "French  furlough" — went  without 


104  THE  STORY  OF 

leave,  to  see  his  family,  was  arrested,  brought 
back,  courtmartialed,  and  sentenced  for  a  term  to 
Castle  Thunder,  a  Confederate  prison  in  Rich- 
mond for  Confederate  delinquents.  On  his  re- 
turn he  made  up  for  his  delinquency.  A.  L.  Fry, 
orderly-sergeant,  was  summoned  as  a  witness 
against  Sumner  at  his  trial,  and  was  thereby 
absent  at  the  battle  of  Frazier's  farm. 

For  several  days  preceding  the  30th  day  of 
May,  1862,  the  weather  had  been  very  sultry,  and 
during  the  night  of  that  day  there  broke  over  the 
camp  a  violent  electric  storm,  accompanied  by  a 
heavy  downpour  of  rain,  which  flooded  the  quar- 
ters and  submerged  everything  on  the  ground 
within  the  tents,  compelling  the  men  to  stand  on 
their  feet  for  hours.  The  vivid  flashes  of  elec- 
tricity, the  fearful  peals  of  thunder,  reminded  one 
of  the  progress  of  a  mighty  battle,  and  was  a 
fitting  precursor  of  the  morrow's  bloody  day. 

At  daylight,  Saturday,  May  31,  came  the  order 
to  march.  Although  we  knew  the  enemy  was 
in  close  proximity  to  Richmond  and  extending  his 
lines  closer,  with  the  intention  of  investing  the 
city,  yet  we  were  at  a  loss  to  determine  where  we 
were  going,  as  we  had  not  received  orders  to  be 
ready  to  move.  Much  difficulty  was  encountered 
in  crossing  the  small  branches,  which  had  over- 
flowed their  banks,  but  we  finally  made  our  way 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  105 

into  the  Williamsburg  road,  learning  on  the  way 
from  parties  coming  from  the  front  that  a  battle 
was  imminent.  Hurrying  forward  at  quickstep, 
turning  to  the  right  from  the  Williamsburg 
road,  we  found  ourselves  in  line  of  battle  on 
the  edge  of  a  swamp  in  a  wood,  where  we  re- 
mained until  about  i  P.  M.,  hearing  the  boom 
of  cannon,  and  indistinctly  the  rattle  of  musketry, 
apparently  far  to  our  left.  Not  long  after  the 
hour  mentioned,  we  were  hurried  away  to  the  left 
to  Seven  Pines,  where  we  soon  found  ourselves 
face  to  face  with  the  enemy,  in  part  the  Federal 
division  of  General  Silas  Casey,  whose  earthworks 
and  camp  we  carried,  including  some  of  his  artil- 
lery. The  forces  engaged,  as  given  by  General 
Longstreet  in  his  "Manassas  to  Appomattox," 
were:  Union  troops,  18,500;  Confederates, 
14,600;  Union  losses,  5,031;  Confederate,  4,798. 
This  engagement  was  called  by  the  Confederates 
the  Battle  of  Seven  Pines. 

I  have  not  been  able  to  secure  my  brigade  or 
regimental  loss  but  my  company  loss  was :  A.  D. 
Manning,  killed ;  Sergeant  E.  R.  Walker,  Privates 
Travis  Burton,  John  W.  Hight  and  Joseph  Lewy, 
wounded.  Our  ensign.  Mays,  acted  with  his  usual 
gallantry. 

The  right  wing  of  the  Confederate  army,  under 
General  Longstreet,  had  defeated  the  left  wing  of 


106  THE  STORY  OF 

the  Union  army,  captured  its  intrenchments,  guns 
and  camp,  and  driven  it  for  quite  a  distance,  but 
the  Confederate  left  wing  had  not  been  so  for- 
tunate as  the  right.  In  this  battle,  after  we  had 
broken  General  Casey's  lines,  some  Union  sharp- 
shooters took  cover  in  the  swamp  in  our  front, 
one  of  whom  at  about  seventy-five  yards  fired 
at  me,  the  ball  grazing  my  cap. 

A  short  time  previous  to  the  Battle  of  Seven 
Pines,  our  brigadier-general,  A.  P.  Hill,  had  been 
made  major-general.  Colonel  Kemper  had  been 
promoted  to  brigadier-general  and  was  in  com- 
mand of  the  brigade  during  the  above-mentioned 
engagement.  General  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  com- 
manding the  Confederate  army  in  this  battle,  was 
badly  wounded,  and  General  Robert  E.  Lee  was 
appointed  to  succeed  him  in  the  command. 

We  left  the  battleground,  as  now  recalled,  on 
June  2,  returning  to  camp,  a  few  days  after  which 
the  24th  Virginia  regiment,  which  had  been  with 
Early's,  then  with  Garland's  brigade,  was  united 
with  ours — now  composed  of  the  1st,  7th,  nth, 
17th  and  24th  Virginia  regiments. 


Chapter  XI 


Preparations  for  Active  Field  Service. 

Dress  Parade  and  Speeches  of  General  Kemper 
and  Colonel  Patton. 

Battles  Around  Richmond. 

Gaines'  Mill  or  Cold  Harbor. 

Frazier's  Farm  and  Malvern  Hill. 

Testing  a  Man's  Courage. 

Casualties. 

In  Pursuit  of  the  Enemy. 

In  Camp  Near  the  Chickahominy. 

Sickness  and  Death. 

Threatening  Attitude  of  the  Enemy  in  Northern 
Virginia. 

Concentration  of  the  Confederate  Army  on  the 
Rappahannock. 

Pope's  Bravado. 

Lieutenant  Hugh  M.  Patton  Succeeds  Stark  as 
Adjutant,  and  Sergeant  Parke  Appointed  Sergeant- 
Major,  Succeeding  George  S.  Tansill. 


FOLLOWING  the  Battle  of  Seven  Pines,  and 
the  period  preceding  the  opening  of  the 
battles  around  Richmond,  at  Mechanicsville 
on  June  26,  all  were  engaged  in  drilling  and 
gathering  in  absentees.  Muskets  were  put  in 
order,  cartridge  boxes,  bayonets  and  gun  straps 
were  issued.  Inspection  of  arms  and  accouter- 
ments,  and  dress  parades  were  frequent,  and  the 
word  went  from  lip  to  lip  that  something  was 
up,  that  all  this  preparation  meant  business,  and 
that  right  early. 

Rations  were  cooked  and  distributed  on 
Wednesday,  June  25,  and  everything  put  in  shape 
to  move  on  short  notice.  Being  on  parade  on 
the  evening  of  the  day  last  referred  to,  General 
Kemper  and  Colonel  Patton  made  soul-stirring 
speeches,  telling  us  that  the  great  battle  of  the 
revolution  was  now  to  be  fought,  and  if  we  were 
successful  the  Confederacy  would  be  a  free  coun- 
try, and  we  would  all  go  home  together;  if  beaten, 
the  war  must  be  prolonged  for  years. 

Leaving  camp  in  the  early  morning  of  the 
26th,  we  marched  in  the  direction  of  Mechanics- 
ville bridge,  on  the  Chickahominy,  halting  a  short 
distance  from  the  bridge  under  cover  of  timber 
on  the  roadside,  from  which  we  could,  late  in 


110  THE  STORY  OF 

the  afternoon,  hear  the  roar  of  the  battle  at 
Mechanicsville  beyond  the  river,  then  being" 
fought  by  the  Confederate  division  of  General 
A.  P.  Hill  and  the  Federal  corps  of  Porter.  As 
the  darkness  came  on  the  flash  of  their  guns 
could  be  seen  distinctly,  the  battle  continuing  until 
nearly  9  o'clock.  At  dawn  the  firing-  across  the 
river  was  renewed,  continuing  for  a  time.  The 
movement  of  our  force  was  then  made  across  the 
bridge,  following  the  track  of  the  retreating  foe, 
whose  course  was  marked  by  the  destruction  of 
commissary  stores.  Reaching  the  vicinity  of 
Gaines'  Mill  at  noon,  a  line  of  battle  was  formed 
behind  and  near  the  crest  of  a  low  range  of  hills, 
hiding  us  from  the  view  of  the  enemy.  In  our 
immediate  front  were  the  brigades  of  Pickett, 
Wilcox  and  Pryor,  who  were  to  lead  the  assault 
on  our  part  of  the  line,  with  our  brigade  in  sup- 
port. Near  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  the 
battle  opened  with  fury,  raging  with  varying 
fortune  until  nearly  dark,  when  our  troops  broke 
over  the  Union  lines,  forcing  their  men  from  the 
field :  a  victory  dearly  bought.  Kemper's  brigade 
was  not  called  into  action,  though  lying  under 
fearful  shelling,  but  fortunately  we  were  just 
near  enough  the  crest  of  the  ridge  to  avoid  the 
shells,  which  passed  in  most  part  over  us.  We 
suffered  but  little  if  any  loss. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  111 

The  Federals  engaged  in  this  battle  numbered 
about  35,oo° ;  their  loss  in  killed,  wounded  and 
missing  7,000,  besides  twenty-two  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery which  fell  into  our  hands.  The  Confed- 
erates no  doubt  had  the  larger  number  engaged, 
and  their  casualties  were,  therefore,  greater,  but 
seem  not  to  have  been  reported. 

Next  morning  we  marched  over  the  field  on 
which  the  Confederate  brigades  of  Wilcox, 
Pickett  and  Pryor,  with  others,  had  made  heroic 
fight,  and  it  is  almost  incredible  that  a  single  line 
of  Confederates  should  have  forced  their  way  in 
the  face  of  the  murderous  fire  they  met,  over  such 
a  position,  which  was  to  all  appearances  impreg- 
nable, and  certainly  was,  except  as  against  men 
fighting  for  homes,  firesides,  and  principles  which 
they  regarded  as  dearer  than  life. 

We  occupied  the  field  Saturday,  in  a  position 
to  make  or  to;  receive  an  attack,  but  the  enemy 
was  in  no  plight — in  fact,  in  no  mood,  to  attack 
us,  but  on  the  contrary  was  making  for  the  James 
River,  though  we  did  not  then  know  it.  Our 
officers  did  not  seem  to  know  with  certainty  what 
direction  the  enemy  was  taking,  as  his  movement 
was  well  masked.  It  seems  to  have  been  dis- 
covered late  on  the  evening  of  Saturday,  the 
28th,  or  early  on  Sunday  morning,  the  29th,  that 
General  McClellan,  with  his  army,  was  making 


112  THE  STORY  OF 

for  the  shelter  of  the  Union  naval  fleet  on  the 
James,  and  such  being  the  understanding,  Long- 
street's  and  A.  P.  Hill's  divisions  at  an  early 
hour  on  Sunday  morning  were  pushed  across  the 
Chickahominy  via  New  Bridge,  and  to  the  Darby- 
town  road,  to  intercept  the  retreat.  The  day  was 
warm,  the  roads  dusty,  and  the  march  fatiguing, 
especially  as  it  was  rapid  for  fifteen  or  eighteen 
miles.  Pushing  ahead  early  the  next  day,  Mon- 
day, June  30,  the  enemy  was  encountered  about 
noon.  The  skirmishers  were  soon  engaged,  but 
the  advance  of  our  troops  did  not  begin  until  about 
4  o'clock  P.  M.,  and  after  we  had  suffered  for 
two  or  more  hours  from  a  severe  shelling.  While 
under  this  severe  fire  and  in  line  in  the  woods, 
in  a  swamp  amidst  brambles  and  vines,  a  shell 
from  one  of  the  enemy's  guns  burst  immediately 
in  our  front  and  only  a  few  feet  away,  scattering 
the  fragments  and  shrapnel  in  our  midst,  one 
of  which  struck  a  man  close  by  me,  burying  itself  , 
in  a  testament  in  his  breast  pocket,  which  thus 
saved  his  life. 

The  point  where  the  encounter  took  place  was 
known  locally  as  Frazier's  farm.  The  only  Con- 
federate troops  engaged  were  the  two  divisions 
above  mentioned,  which  had  been  sorely  reduced 
by  the  casualties  at  Seven  Pines,  Mechanicsville 
and  Gaines'  Mill,  as  well  as  by  sickness,  the  ex- 


Lieut.    Elisha   M.  Stonr 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  113 

haustion  of  a  rapid  march,  and  by  straggling, 
to  about  12,000  men.  These  were  pitted  against 
the  main  body  of  the  Union  army. 

From  the  firing  we  had  every  reason  to  believe 
that  the  enemy  was  close  at  hand  in  large  num- 
bers, seemingly  not  distant  more  than  half  a  mile. 
The  advance  of  our  forces  was  through  a  dense 
wood,  tangled  underbrush  filled  with  brambles, 
and  partly  covered  by  water,  with  no  possibility 
of  keeping  the  men  up  to  their  places,  the  stronger 
ones  pushing  through  over  the  obstacles,  while 
many  of  the  weaker,  unable  to  keep  pace,  were 
left  behind.  Kemper's  brigade  was  leading  and 
his  advance  soon  became  a  charge,  the  enemy 
being  posted  on  the  farther  side  of  an  open  field. 
Some  of  the  line  officers  implored  the  regimental 
commander  to  halt  long  enough  to  get  the  men 
in  order  and  close  the  ranks,  but  the  officer  cried 
out:  "Forward!  Forward!"  and  on  rushed  the 
men,  every  man  his  own  general,  which  they 
usually  were  in  making  such  a  charge. 

In  a  fierce  battle  a  man's  courage  is  severely 
tested.  Here  our  regiment  is  in  battle  line  on 
the  edge  of  a  wood ;  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
in  front  is  another  wood,  sheltering  the  enemy; 
between  the  opposing  forces  is  an  open  field;  the 
regiment  is  advancing  and  the  lines  move  out  into 
the  clear  sunlight.     Men  will   hurriedly   reason 


114  THE  STORY  OF 

with  themselves:  "The  enemy  is  posted  in  that 
timber  across  the  field;  before  we. move  many 
yards  he  will  open  on  us  with  shot  and  shell; 
this  is  perhaps  my  last  day  on  earth."  So  each 
man  reasons,  but  every  face  is  sternly  set  to  the 
front  and  not  a  man  falters.  The  shell  and  shot 
blow  dozens  to  gory  fragments,  but  the  line  does 
not  halt,  the  living-  saying  to  themselves :  "The 
fire  will  presently  change  to  cannister,  then  I  shall 
certainly  be  struck."  The  prediction  is  being 
verified,  gaps  are  opened  through  the  ranks,  only 
to  be  closed  again ;  the  regiment  has  lost  its  adhe- 
sion and  marching  step,  its  lines  are  no  longer 
perfect,  but  the  movement  is  still  onward.  From 
knowledge  of  methods  in  battle,  our  men  sup- 
pose the  infantry  is  in  support  of  the  battery. 
We  have  escaped  shell  and  cannister,  but  when 
we  meet  the  musketry  fire  we  shall  be  killed. 
There  is  no  hanging  back,  no  thought  but  to  push 
ahead.  The  leaden  hail  now  comes  and  the  lines 
are  further  disordered;  the  left  wing  has  lost  its 
front  by  quite  a  distance,  but  the  push  is  forward, 
men  grip  their  guns,  their  eyes  flash,  and  with 
a  yell,  on  to  the  battery  they  rush,  bayonetting 
the  cannoneers  at  their  posts.  The  Federal  in- 
fantry supports  give  way  precipitately — then  fol- 
lows that  famous  bone-searching  rebel  yell  of 
triumph. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  115 

The  brigade,  led  by  the  brave  General  Kemper, 
met  a  shower  of  shot,  shell,  cannister  and  storm 
of  leaden  bullets;  it  never  faltered,  rushed  upon 
the  Union  battery  —  Randol's  Pennsylvania  — 
routing  its  infantry  supports.  Here  Ensign 
Mays  planted  the  colors  of  the  7th  regiment  on 
the  Union  guns.  They  were  ours,  won,  however, 
at  fearful  cost.  The  failure  promptly  to  support 
our  brigade — the  enemy  flanking  us  on  both 
wings — caused  General  Kemper  to  order  the  re- 
tirement of  the  brigade,  now  suffering  severe  loss 
from  the  fire  of  these  flanking  columns,  which 
in  turn  were  themselves  flanked  and  defeated  by 
the  troops  coming  to  our  support.  Such  is  the 
fearful  game  of  war  with  men  of  the  same  valor 
and  blood. 

The  brigade  casualties  were  414,  of  which  44 
were  killed,  205  wounded  and  165  missing.  Regi- 
mental loss  in  the  7th  Virginia,  ill,  of  which  14 
were  killed,  66  wounded  and  31  missing.  Adju- 
tant E.  B.  Starke  was  killed  and  Sergeant-Major 
Tansill  severely  wounded,  disabled  for  further 
service.  Sergeant-Ma j or  Tansill  had  been  a  sol- 
dier in  our  war  with  Mexico,  and  was  one  of  the 
most  efficient,  the  bravest  and  best  of  our  soldiers. 
The  gallant  Lieutenant,  afterwards  Captain 
James  G.  Tansill,  of  Company  E,  of  the  7th  regi- 
ment, was  the  son  of  Sergeant-Major  Tansill. 


116  THE  STORY  OF 

The  loss  in  my  company  was  16.  Killed,  Cap- 
tain Joel  Blackard ;  mortally  wounded,  Ballard  P. 
Meadows,  Lee  E.  Vass  and  Joseph  Eggleston; 
the  other  wounded  were:  J.  C.  Shannon,  Daniel 
Bish,  Jesse  B.  Young,  David  C  Akers,  H.  J.  Wil- 
burn,  Tim  P.  Darr,  Francis  M.  Gordon,  George 
A.  Minnich,  T.  P.  Mays,  John  W.  Sarver  and 
Joseph  Suthern.  Captured,  Allen  M.  Bane. 
Ballard  P.  Meadows  was  made  a  prisoner  and 
died  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Upon  the  fall 
of  the  brave  and  lamented  Captain  Blackard,  the 
command  of  the  company  devolved  upon  First 
Lieutenant  Robert  H.  Bane,  a  gallant  soldier,  and 
a  worthy  successor  to  Captain  Blackard.  Second 
Lieutenant  Mullins  became  first  lieutenant;  E. 
M.  Stone,  second  lieutenant,  and  Sergeant  E.  R. 
Walker  was  elected  second  junior  lieutenant. 

During  that  night  our  troops  rested  on  the  field 
without  disturbance  from  the  enemy,  who  con- 
tinued his  flank  movement,  a  masterly  retreat, 
to  a  position  at  Malvern  Hill,  on  the  banks  of  the 
James  :  a  position  of  great  natural  strength,  where 
the  entire  L'nion  army  was  concentrated,  sup- 
ported by  the  gunboats  in  the  river.  The  Battle 
of  Malvern  Hill  did  not  begin  until  the  after- 
noon, but  its  tide  swept  to  and  fro  until  far  into 
the  night.  The  divisions  of  Longstreet  and  A.  P. 
Hill  were  held  in  reserve,  close  up,  but  not  called 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  117 

into  action,  near  enough,  however,  to  be  in  range 
of  the  enemy's  artillery  and  heavy  projectiles 
thrown  from  the  gunboats,  inspiring  fear  and 
terror  among  our  men  not  justified  by  their  execu- 
tion. The  repeated  charges  of  our  troops  against 
the  enemy's  stronghold  failed  to  dislodge  him. 
Our  men  were  repulsed;  they  had  bearded  the 
lion  in  his  den ;  he  refused  to  yield ;  he  could  not 
afford  to,  for  if  he  did  he  had  but  one  place  to 
go  and  that  was  into  the  river,  or  the  alternative, 
of  surrendering.  In  the  Battle  of  Frazier's  Farm 
the  Federals  largely  outnumbered  the  Confeder- 
ates. They  lost  ten  guns)  captured  by  the  Con- 
federates, who,  when  the  battle  closed,  held  the 
greater  part  of  the  field.  The  Federal  General 
McCall  was  captured  by  the  47th  Virginia  regi- 
ment. 

At  the  opening  of  the  campaign,  the  Union 
army  numbered  105,000,  the  Confederate  80,762 
— tremendous  armies,  when  we  come  to  think  of 
it.  The  losses  on  each  side,  up  to  the  Battle  of 
Malvern  Hill,  in  killed  and  wounded,  were 
thought  to  be  equal,  but  in  that  battle  it  is  stated 
upon  authority  that  the  Confederate  loss  was 
about  5,000  men,  the  Union  loss  about  one-third 
that  number.  During  the  Battle  of  Malvern  Hill, 
Mr.  Davis,  President  of  the  Confederate  States, 


118  -THE  STORY  OF 

was  with  us  in  the  morning  and  under  the  fire  of 
the,  gunboats. 

It  being  ascertained  that  the  enemy  had  re- 
treated during  the  previous  night,  we  hastened 
in  pursuit,  amidst  a  heavy  rainstorm,  and  after 
a  fatiguing,  disagreeable,  all-day  march,  found 
the  enemy  in  a  strong  position  at  Westover,  on 
the  James.  As  he  showed  no  disposition  to  come 
out  from  his  cover,  our  army,  about  July  8, 
reached  its  camps  in  the  vicinity  of  Richmond. 
It  had  been  a  wonderful  series  of  battles.  Gen- 
eral McQellan  had  made  a  most  masterly  re- 
treat, escaping  from  woeful  disaster.  It  was 
within  the  range  of  probability,  in  fact,  almost 
a  certainty,  that  if  the  Confederate  army  had 
been  under  as  good  discipline  as  it  was  two  years 
later,  the  Union  army  would  have  been  destroyed 
or  made  prisoners.  As  it  was,  the  Federal  loss 
was  nearly  16,000  men  and  54  pieces  of  artillery, 
while  the  Confederate  loss  was  reckoned  at  about 
19,000  men.  Richmond  had  been  saved,  the 
enemy  driven  far  away,  General  McQellan  prov- 
ing himself  better  at  a  retreat  than  going  the 
other  way. 

After  the  enemy  had  taken  shelter  under  the 
protection  of  his  gunboats  at  Westover,  the  Con- 
federate commissariat  attempted  to  reach  the  large 
amount  of  supplies  held  by  the  farmers  along  the 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  119 

Tames  River.  Numerous  wagons  were  sent  under 
escort  to  secure  these  supplies.  Our  Company  D, 
going  on  one  of  these  trips,  was  attacked  by 
Union  gunboats,  into  which  we  fired  quite  a 
number  of  volleys  of  musketry  at  close  range, 
being  sheltered  by  the  river  bank,  and  in  return 
received  a  severe  shelling.  A  few  men  were 
wounded,  and  I  received  a  shot  on  the  side  of  the 
foot,  but  not  much  of  a  hurt. 

From  July  8  to  August  13,  a  period  of  inac- 
tivity ensued,  and  as  usual  in  that  swampy  coun- 
try, with  bad  water,  there  was  much  sickness 
among  the  men.  Lewis  R.  Skeens,  of  Company 
D,  died  in  camp  and  was  buried  near  by.  Charles 
W.  Peck,  George  W.  Akers,  William  C.  Fortner, 
James  B.  Henderson,  John  R.  Crawford,  and  the 
writer  were  taken  sick  and  sent  to  hospital  at 
Richmond,  where  Peck  and  Akers  died.  Fort- 
ner, Henderson,  Crawford  and  the  writer  im- 
proved rapidly,  and  were  ready  to  return  to  our 
command  by  the  middle  of  August. 

General  McClellan's  Union  army  was  shut  up 
at  Westover,  and  being  depleted  by  the  ravages 
of  sickness  and  death.  This  fact,  together  with 
the  threatening  attitude  of  a  new  Federal  army 
in  Northern  Virginia,  induced  General  Lee,  who 
now  had  apparently  nothing  to  fear  from  Mc- 
Clellan,  to  concentrate  his  army  on  the  Rappahan- 


120  THE  STORY  OF 

nock,  and  to  that  end  about  the  middle  of  July 
had  transferred  General  Jackson  and  his  command 
to  the  Rapidan — which,  by  the  early  days  of 
August,  was  in  the  vicinity  of  the  enemy — and 
closed  with  him  at  Cedar  Mountain  on  August 
9,  forcing  the  enemy  to  retire  on  Culpeper  court 
house. 

Longstreet's  division  left  Richmond  Wednes- 
day, August  13,  for  Gordonsville  and  the  Rapidan, 
our  brigade  moving  by  rail.  Learning-  that  our 
division  was  moving,  Fortner,  Henderson,  Craw- 
ford and  the  writer,  the  sick  bunch  above  alluded 
to,  applied  for  discharge  from  the  hospital,  and 
procured  transportation  via  Lynchburg.  Reach- 
ing Orange  court  house  on  the  18th,  we  left  the 
railway,  taking  the  track  of  the  advancing  army. 
The  first  day's  tramp  finished  up  Fortner  and 
Henderson,  both  of  whom  were  still  feeble;  and 
it  also  finished  up  my  shoes,  leaving  me  barefoot  ; 
in  fact,  had  none  I  could  wear  until  after  our 
return  from  Maryland  a  month  later.  Leaving 
Fortner  and  Henderson  on  the  road,  Crawford 
and  I  pushed  on,  rejoining  our  command  on  the 
Rappahannock.  Fortner  overtook  us  in  a  few 
days,  and  in  time  to  go  into  the  battle  of  the 
30th,  when  he  received  a  severe  wound.  Poor 
Fortner!  Misfortune  seemed  now  to  be  his  lot, 
going  and  coming. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  121 

By  August  20  the  greater  part  of  General 
Lee's  army  was  on  the  Rappahannock,  confront- 
ing the  Union  army  under  General  John  Pope, 
on  the  opposite  bank.  Pope,  who,  it  is  stated, 
had  said  a  few  days  before  in  an  address  to  his 
troops  that  "his  headquarters  were  in  the  saddle, 
and  that  he  never  turned  his  back  upon  an 
enemy  nor  looked  for  lines  of  retreat" — which 
statement  he  later  denied — had  already  run,  and 
was  in  a  position  to  have  to  run  again,  or  at 
least  to  get  to  the  rear  to  look  after  his  line  of 
retreat. 

Longstreet's  division  on  August  21  moved 
forward  to  Kelley's  ford,  which  we  left  on  the 
22d,  taking  position  near  Beverly's,  relieving 
some  of  General  Jackson's  command,  which 
moved  up  the  Rappahannock.  For  three  or 
four  days  there  was  considerable  skirmishing, 
with  occasional  artillery  duels  across  the  river. 
Again  moving  on  the  24th  to  the  assistance  of 
Jackson's  troops,  engaged  with  the  enemy  at 
some  of  the  upper  fords  of  the  Rappahannock. 
our  march  was  retarded  by  the  swollen  condi- 
tion of  Hazel  river  and  other  small  tributaries 
of  the  Rappahannock;  reaching  Jeffersonton 
that  afternoon,  during  the  progress  of  a  lively 
cannonade.  A  halt  was  made  by  our  division 
and  Jackson's  men  moved  up  the  river.     Lieut 


122  THE  STORY  OF 

Hugh  M.  Patton  had  been  appointed  Adjutant 
of  the  seventh  regiment,  succeeding  Adjutant 
Starke,  and Park  had  been  ap- 
pointed Sergeant  Major  to  succeed  George  S. 
Tansill,  disabled  and  discharged. 


Chapter  XII 


General  Jackson  With  His  "Foot  Cavalry." 

On  the  Flank  and  in  the  Rear  of  General  Pope's 
Army. 

Longstreet's  Division  Diverting  the  Enemy's  At- 
tention on  the  Rappahannock. 

March  Through  Thoroughfare  Gap. 

Haymarket  to  the  Relief  of  Jackson's  Men. 

The  Fight  on  the  29th. 

Battle  of  August  30,  1862. 

Kemper  Commands  Division,  Corse  Leads  the 
Brigade. 

Pope  Defeated. 

Casualties. 

Rainstorm  and  March  Through  Leesburg  to 
White's  Ford. 

Crossing  the  Potomac. 

The  Cry  "Back  to  Washington"  and  not  "On  to 
Richmond." 

"Maryland,  My  Maryland,"  "Bonnie  Blue  Flag." 

Halt  at  Monocacy  Bridge. 


GENERAL  JACKSON  with  his  "foot 
cavalry,"  as  his  men  were  often  referred 
to,  on  account  of  their  rapid  marches  and 
power  of  endurance,  crossed  the  Rappahannock 
on  August  25  and  by  swift  marches  placed  his 
command  at  Manassas  in  the  rear  of  General 
Pope's  army,  and  between  it  and  Washington — 
our  division  (Longstreet's)  amusing  General 
Pope  on  the  Rappahannock  by  making  sortie  in 
order  to  divert  his  attention  from  General  Jack- 
son's movement. 

Longstreet's  division  crossed  the  river  near 
Amissville  on  Tuesday,  the  26th,  reaching 
Thoroughfare  Gap  in  the  afternoon  of  the  28th ; 
the  march  having  been  somewhat  disturbed  by  a 
body  of  the  enemy's  cavalry.  The  enemy  held 
the  east  side  of  the  Gap  in  large  force.  The  eve- 
ning was  spent  in  reconnoitering,  getting  into 
position  to  carry  the  Gap.  Our  rations  consisted 
of  green  corn  and  fresh  beef.  Numbers  of  the 
men  were  without  shoes,  including  the  writer. 
Some  horses  belonging  to  the  wagons  or  am- 
bulances broke  from  their  fastenings  during  the 
night,  running  through  the  camp  and  creating 
quite  a  stir,  as  someone  called  out,  "Yankee 
Cavalry!"    No  damage  was  done,  except  the  loss 


126  THE  STORY  OF 

of.  an  ear  by  one  man  from  the  stroke  of  a  horse's 
hoof.  The  man  yelled,  "I've  got  a  one  ear  fur- 
lough." 

The  Gap  next  morning  was  flanked  by  our 
troops,  the  enemy  scurrying  away  in  time  to  save 
his  face.  After  clearing  the  Gap  and  reaching 
the  vicinity  of  the  little  village  of  Haymarket, 
there  could  be  heard  distinctly  seven  or  eight 
miles  away  the  roar  of  artillery.  The  day  was 
warm,  the  roads  dusty,  and  the  men  suffered  for 
water.  It  was  pathetic  to  see  the  boys  with  feet 
bare  and  bleeding  endeavoring  to  keep  pace  with 
their  comrades. 

A  little  past  noon  on  the  29th,  we  arrived  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  battleground,  and  not  long 
thereafter  the  roar  of  battle  to  our  left  informed 
us  that  Jackson's  men  were  hotly  engaged.  Later 
in  the  evening,  the  brigades  of  Hood  and  Evans, 
of  Longstreet's  division,  engaged  a  portion  of 
the  enemy,  driving  him  for  some  distance.  The 
remainder  of  our  division  was  in  line  of  battle, 
prepared  to  attack,  as  we  understood,  a  force  of 
the  enemy  to  the  right,  should  opportunity  offer. 
Our  position  was  now  between  the  Warrenton 
pike  and  Manassas  Gap  railway — where  we  were 
still  subsisting  on  roasting  ears  and  fresh  beef; 
no  large  quantity  at  that,  but  the  Confederate 
soldier  ever  bore  his  privations  with  less  com- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  127 

plaint  than  would  be  supposed  by  those  who  did 
not  know  his  enthusiasm  for  cause  and  country. 
On  the  morning  of  the  30th,  during  skirmish- 
ing and  artillery  fire  along  the  lines,  the  com- 
mand to  which  we  belonged  moved  forward  a 
short  distance,  resting  near  an  old  rail  fence 
which  ran  on  and  along  a  narrow  country  road. 
All  firing  ceased  about  noon,  and  quiet  continued 
until  about  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  when  it  was  broken 
by  the  lumbering  of  artillery  and  the  crash  of  small 
arms.  While  lying  on  the  road  referred  to,  A.  J. 
Thompson  and  John  Q.  Martin,  of  Company  D, 
came  near  having  a  serious  fight,  which  was 
finally  terminated  by  the  interference  of  Colonel 
Patton.  In  a  few  minutes  after  this  trouble,  the 
battle  opened  on  the  left,  rolling  towards  us.  The 
order  came,  and  the  brigade,  under  command 
of  Colonel  Corse,  went  forward  at  double  quick, 
over  a  field,  through  the  woods,  and  into  open 
ground,  where  the  enemy  was  in  line  of  battle. 
The  charge  of  the  division  under  General  Kemper, 
the  brigade  under  Colonel  Corse,  was  impetuous 
and  most  gallant,  routing  the  Union  infantry  and 
capturing  a  Maine  battery  and  some  regimental 
flags.  General  Pope's  army  was  defeated  and 
in  retreat.  It  was  now  dark.  The  forces  en- 
gaged on  the  Union  side,  under  General  Pope, 
in    this    series    of    battles     around     Manassas 


128  THE  STORY  OF 

amounted  to  74,578  men;  those  on  the  side  of  the 
Confederates,  49,077.  The  casualties  in  the 
Union  army  were  1,747  killed,  8,452  wounded, 
4263  missing;  aggregate,  14,462.  On  the  side 
of  the  Confederates,  1468  were  killed,  7563 
wounded,  and  81  missing;  aggregate,  91 12. 
Thirty  Union  field  guns  were  captured  by  the 
Confederates,  with  20,000  small  arms,  including 
a  number  of  colors. 

Our  brigade  loss  was  33  killed,  240  wounded, 
and  one  missing;  aggregate,  274.  The  regi- 
mental loss  was  Col.  W.  T.  Patton,  Lieut.  Col. 
C.  C.  Flowerree,  Major  Swinler,  Adjutant  Pat- 
ton  and  Sergt.  Major  Park,  all  of  whom  were 
severely  wounded.  Major  Swinler  losing  a  leg, 
and  Adjutant  Patton  and  Sergt.  Major  Park  be- 
ing disabled  for  further  service.  The  loss  in- 
cluding those  mentioned  was  five  killed,  48 
wounded;  aggregate  53. 

The  loss  in  my  company  was  16,  equal  to 
about  one-third  of  the  regimental  loss:  John  Q. 
Martin,  killed;  wounded,  Lieutenant  John  W. 
Mullins  and  14  privates,  viz :  William  H.  Carr, 
John  S.  Dudley,  Elbert  S.  Eaton,  Adam  Thomp- 
son, William  C.  Fortner,  James  H.  Fortner. 
Francis  H.  Farley,  J.  Tyler  Frazier,  John  W. 
Hight,  G.  L.  Wilburn,  H.  J.  Wilburn,  William 
I.  Wilburn,  James  J.  Nye  and  Washington  R.  C. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  129 

Vass.  The  two  latter  were  mortally  wounded, 
Vass  dying  that  night  and  Nye  a  few  days  there- 
after. A.  L.  Fry  had  been  sent  with  our  wounded 
Lieutenant  Mullins  to  Warrenton,  and  was 
there  captured  by  the  enemy  after  the  army  had 
crossed  the  Potomac. 

I  must  speak  here  of  some  little  incidents  in 
connection  with  this  battle  which  I  think  worthy 
of  notice.  The  advance  of  the  brigade  in  the 
charge  encountered  a  rail  fence,  a  short  distance 
beyond  which  was  the  enemy's  battery,  and  its 
battle  line  of  infantry  supports.  When  near  the 
fence,  fearless  Lieutenant-Colonel  Flowerree — a 
mere  boy,  scarcely  2 1  years  of  age — shouted : 
"Up  to  the  fence,  7th  regiment,  and  give  them 
h— 1!" 

In  closing  on  the  batten.',  the  man  at  the  breach 
was  in  the  act  of  firing,  when  bold  Ike  Hare,  of 
my  company,  directly  in  front  of  the  guns,  cried 
out,  "Fire!"  Whiz!  went  the  ball  over  the  heads 
of  the  men,  who  the  next  moment,  with  Colonel 
Skinner  of  the  First  Virginia  regiment,  were 
among  the  cannoneers,  the  Colonel,  with  heavy 
sabre  in  hand,  cutting  right  and  left,  receiving  a 
wound  in  the  encounter  which  retired  him  from 
the  service. 

I  went  out  to  help  gather  up  the  wounded,  and 
to  get  me  a  pair  of  trousers  and  shoes,  both  of 


130  THE  STORY  OF 

which  I  had  need  of,  and  which  I  procured, 
selecting-  a  dead  Union  soldier  about  my  size.  His 
shoes  I  could  not  wear,  as  they  were  too  small, 
and  I  gave  them  to  a  comrade;  and  I  almost  re- 
gretted having-  put  on  his  trousers,  for  they  were 
inhabited  by  the  same  sort  of  graybacks  common 
to  the  Confederate  and  Union  soldiers.  After 
more  than  50  years  the  thought  of  this  wretched 
parasite  makes  my  flesh  itch.  But  these  pests 
were  unavoidable  to  soldiers  continually  on  the 
march  through  mud,  mire,  and  over  dusty  roads, 
without  opportunity  to  cleanse  their  clothes  or 
make  a  change  thereof,  and  this  was  particularly 
so  with  the  Confederate  soldier,  who  seldom  had, 
or  could  procure  a  change  of  raiment. 

In  front  of  our  regiment  fell  mortally  wounded 
Colonel  Fletcher  Webster,  of  Massachusetts,  the 
only  son  of  Daniel  Webster,  where  he  lay  until 
next  day. 

As  was  usual  following  the  gjeat  battles  of 
our  war,  there  came  down  that  night,  and  con- 
tinuing the  most  of  the  next  two  days,  a  heavy 
downpour  of  rain;  a  great  blessing  to  the 
wounded,  who  needed  the  cooler  temperature,  as 
some  relief  at  least  from  the  warm  and  oppres- 
sive heat. 

Our  time  on  Sunday  was  occupied  in  burying 
the  dead  and  caring  for  the  wounded,  then  be- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  131 

ing  relieved  by  others.  On  Monday,  September 
I  followed  the  command  of  General  Jackson  to 
Chantilly,  where  he  had  a  heavy  engagement 
with  the  enemy.  From  here  we  marched  on  the 
3d,  4th  and  5th,  passing  through  Leesburg  and 
to  White's  Ford  on  the  Potomac  River,  where 
camp  was  made  on  the  evening  of  the  5th. 

At  Leesburg  an  order  came  for  all  sick  and 
shoeless  men  to  remain  there :  an  unfortunate  or- 
der in  some  respects,  as  it  was  construed  by  a 
great  many  of  the  men  to  mean  just  anyone  who 
did  not  want  to  go  over  the  river  into  Maryland. 
There  had  already  been  large  depletion  of  the 
ranks,  after  leaving  Richmond,  caused  by  strag- 
gling— partly  by  shoeless  and  sick  men,  and 
partly,  doubtless,  from  other  causes.  Rapid 
marching  and  insufficient,  indifferent,  or  no  food, 
had  much  to  do  with  the  straggling.  Judging 
other  commands  by  my  own,  I  can  state  that 
much  too  large  a  number  of  men  remained  at 
Leesburg.  stretching  the  pretext  to  cover  far 
more  than  was  intended  by  the  order.  But 
when  it  is  remembered  that  the  army  within  a 
period  of  ninety  days  had  fought  not  less  than 
eleven  pitched  battles,  sustaining  losses  in  the 
aggregate  of  fully  thirty-five  thousand  men,  and 
that  in  addition  to  this  they  had  engaged  in  many 
skirmishes,  in  which  numbers  of  men  were  lost. 


132  THE  STORY  OF 

and  that  the  use  of  bad  water  and  bad  or  insuf- 
ficient food  had  depleted  the  ranks  by  thousands ; 
and  again,  further  considering  that  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  army  had  marched  from  Richmond 
to  the  Potomac,  hundreds  shoeless  and  more  be- 
coming so — it  is  not  strange  there  were  so  many 
stragglers,  sick  and  barefooted  men.  They 
amounted  to  probably  20,000.  I  think  a  great 
many  remained  at  Leesburg  who  were  not  sick 
or  barefoot,  because  of  their  aversion  to  fighting 
beyond  Virginia  territory,  north  of  the  Potomac. 
In  one  or  more  of  these  things  enumerated,  I 
may  say  thousands  of  men  found  excuses,  or 
made  them,  to  fall  out  of  ranks  along  the  line  of 
march,  finally  to  halt  at  Leesburg — men  whose 
help  was  sorely  needed  at  Sharpsburg. 

The  Potomac  River  was  forded  on  the  morn- 
ing of  September  6,  amid  the  singing  of  "Mary- 
land, My  Maryland,"  and  the  shouts  and  cheer- 
ing of  the  men.  "Back  to  Washington,"  the  cry, 
instead  of  "On  to  Richmond,"  which  we  had 
heard  from  our  foes.  Winchester  was  made  the 
rendezvous  for  all  the  sick,  lame,  shoeless  and 
others  who  remained  as  we  passed  Leesburg. 

That  night  we  camped  at  a  little  village,  or 
crossroad  hamlet,  I  think  called  Buckeystown. 
Next  day,  the  7th,  a  halt  was  made  at  the  rail- 
way bridge  over  the  Monocacy,  two    miles    or 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  133 

more  from  Frederick,  Maryland.  Many  of  the 
shoeless,  and  others  too  plucky  to  remain  at 
Leesburg,  still  kept  their  places  with  their  com- 
rades, following-  the  fortunes  of  the  army 
throughout  the  campaign.  I  was  one  of  the  num- 
ber that  made  this  tramp  with  bare  feet. 


HBfr— i 


Chapter  XIII 


-" 


A  Soldier's  Equipment. 

Washing  His  Clothes. 

How  He  Ate  and  Slept. 

March  Through  Frederick. 

Middletown. 

Hagerstown. 

A  Soldier  in  Active  Service  in  the  Field. 

What  He  Possesses. 

Indications  of  Southern  Sympathy. 

The  Return  from  Hagerstown. 

Battle  of  Boonsboro  and  Casualties. 

Retreat  to  Sharpsburg  and  Battle. 

Thirteen  Days  in  Maryland.  « 

Back  in  Virginia. 


A  MUSKET,  cartridge  box  with  forty 
rounds  of  cartridges,  cloth  haversack, 
blanket  and  canteen  made  up  the  Con- 
federate soldier's  equipment.  No  man  was  al- 
lowed a  change  of  clothing,  nor  could  he  have 
carried  it.  A  gray  cap,  jacket,  trousers  and  col- 
ored shirt — calico  mostly — made  up  a  private's 
wardrobe.  When  a  clean  shirt  became  neces- 
sary, we  took  off  the  soiled  one,  went  to  the 
water,  usually  without  soap,  gave  it  a  little  rub- 
bing, and  if  the  sun  was  shining,  hung  the  shirt 
on  a  bush  to  dry,  while  the  wearer  sought  the 
shade  to  give  the  shirt  a  chance.  The  method 
of  carrying  our  few  assets  was  to  roll  them  in  a 
blanket,  tying  each  end  of  the  roll,  which  was 
then  swung  over  the  shoulder.  At  night  this 
blanket  was  unrolled  and  wrapped  around  its 
owner,  who  found  a  place  on  the  ground  with 
his  cartridge  box  for  a  pillow.  We  cooked  but 
little,  having  usually  little  to  cook.  The  frying 
pan  was  in  use,  if  we  had  one. 

We  remained  three  days  at  Monocacy,  during 
which  time  the  bridge  was  destroyed  by  our  en- 
gineers. The  morning  of  Wednesday,  Septem- 
ber 10,  our  division  marched  through  Frederick, 
Middletown,   Boonsboro,    and    to    Hagerstown, 


138  THE  STORY  OF 

reaching  the  latter  place  the  evening  of  the  nth, 
and  going  into  camp  half  a  mile  to  the  south  of 
the  town.  Subsistence  was  still  a  pressing  need, 
green  corn  and  fresh  beef  becoming  monotonous. 

In  Frederick  our  hearts  were  made  glad  by 
unmistakable  signs  of  friendship  and  sympathy. 
A  bevy  of  pretty  girls,  singing  "Maryland,  My 
Maryland,"  on  seeing  our  battle  flag  inscribed 
"Seven  Pines,"  proposed  "three  cheers  for  the 
battle  flag  of  Seven  Pines,"  which  were  heartily 
and  lustily  given  by  us.  In  Middletown  we  met 
no  smiles,  but  a  decided  Union  sentiment  was  in 
evidence.  In  Hagerstown  we  observed  indica- 
tions and  heard  some  expressions  of  Southern 
sentiment,  but  none  that  satisfied  us  that  they 
were  ready;  and  willing  to  shed  their  blood  for 
the  Southern  cause. 

The  troops  of  Stonewall  Jackson,  together  with 
those  of  McLaws  and  Walker,  were  now  rapidly 
moving  to  invest  and  capture  the  Union  garrison 
of  some  13.000  men,  at  Harper's  Ferry.  During 
the  march  from  Frederick,  the  Confederate  rear 
was  protected  by  a  cavalry  force  under  General 
Stuart,  and  infantry  under  General  D.  H.  Hill. 
In  the  wake  of  this  rear  guard,  following  leisurely 
was  the  Union  army  under  General  McClellan, 
quite  a  hundred  thousand  strong,  including  a 
powerful  artillery  of  300  guns. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  139 

On  Sunday,  just  before  noon  of  the  14th,  the 
long  roll  sounded  calling'  the  men  into  line,  and 
a  quick  movement  was  made  east  in  the  direction 
of  Boonsboro  and  Turner's  Gap.  Wagons, 
artillery  and  ambulances  cleared  the  road,  giving 
us  the  right  of  way.  At  Hagerstown  was  left 
General  Toombs'  Georgia  brigade,  and  one  regi- 
ment of  G.  T.  Anderson's  to  watch  a  Federal 
gathering  force  just  across  the  Maryland  line. 
The  day  was  hot,  the  road  hard  and  dusty,  the 
march  rapid — so  much  so  that  many  of  the  men 
broke  down,  falling  by  the  wayside.  The 
emergency  demanded  the  presence  of  our  division 
on  the  field  of  battle,  which  we  knew,  having 
learned  on  our  way  that  General  Hill's  division 
had  been  attacked  at  Turner's  Gap  beyond 
Boonsboro  by  a  largely  superior  force,  perhaps 
by  the  larger  part  of  General  McClellan's  Union 
army.  Let  it  now  be  remembered  that  this  army 
made  fourteen  miles  to  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  the  battleground  in  three  and  a  half  hours — 
good  time  for  a  Hamiltonian  horse.  Now  with 
other  troops  we  were  hurried  up  the  mountain  to 
the  right  of  the  main  gap  (Turner's),  and  after 
getting  near  the  firing  line,  and  finding  Con- 
federate troops  there  holding  the  enemy  in 
steady  fight,  our  steps  were  retraced  to  the  Gap. 
From  thence  we  were  ordered  to  the  left,  climbing 


140  THE  STORY  OF 

the  mountain  side  in  full  view  of  the  enemy  to 
our  right,  and  in  range  of  one  of  his  batteries  on 
a  plateau  to  our  right  rear,  which  threw  shot  and 
shell  thick  and  fast,  striking  the  head  of  the  lead- 
ing company  of  my  regiment  and  killing  one  man 
instantly.  On  reaching  the  crest  of  the  moun- 
tain we  found  ourselves  face  to  face  with  the 
enemy  and  close  up  to  them,  and  under  fire  be- 
fore we  were  able  to  get  into  formation.  The 
brigades  of  Rodes  and  Evans  on  the  left  were 
engaged  in  strong  combat  with  the  force  in  their 
front,  and  as  soon  as  Garnett's  and  Jenkins' 
brigades  filled  the  space  on  the  right  and  con- 
nected with  Colquit's  Georgia  brigade,  which  was 
astride  the  turnpike,  the  fighting  along  the  line 
became  general  and  fierce,  as  much  so  as  brave 
men  on  both  sides  could  make  it. 

The  writer's  brigade  was  now  in  a  body  of 
open  timber,  among  stones — large  boulders,  with 
some  fallen  timber  along  the  line,  behind  which, 
lying  down,  the  men  took  shelter  as  best  they 
could ;  the  enemy  occupying  a  skirt  of  woods  with 
a  strip  of  open  land  between  their  position  and 
ours.  For  two  or  more  hours  the  battle  raged, 
or  until  darkness  fell,  the  enemy  making  re- 
peated but  unsuccessful  efforts  to  dislodge  our 
men.  The  firing  having  ceased,  there  was  heard 
in  our  front  the  tramp  of  the  enemy's  feet,  evi- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  141 

dently  preparing  to  renew  the  assault.  In  a  few 
minutes,  a  few  yards  to  the  right,  in  which  Lay 
a  portion  of  the  brigade  in  the  edge  of  a  field, 
where  at  the  beginning  of  the  battle  was  standing 
corn  (now  cut  to  the  ground)  came  the  sound  of 
a  voice,  "There  they  are,  men!  Fire  on  them!" 
Suddenly  came  a  sheet  of  flame  with  a  deafening 
crash  from  the  guns  of  each  of  the  combatants, 
plainly  disclosing  them  to  be  within  a  few  feet 
of  each  other.  The  flame  from  the  respective 
muskets  seemed  to  intermingle.  The  well-di- 
rected fire  of  the  Confederates  caused  confusion  in 
the  enemy's  ranks  and  compelled  them  to  retire. 
Among  the  casualties  on  our  side  from  this 
rencounter  was  Adjutant  John  W.  Daniel  of  the 
nth  Virginia,  who  received  a  severe  wound  in 
the  hand.  This  same  Daniel  served  with  dis- 
tinction in  the  United  States  Senate,  dying  a 
year  or  so  ago.  Such  was  the  character  of  many 
a  noble  man  engaged  in  this  horrid  game  of 
death. 

It  was  now  9  o'clock  or  after  and  intensely 
dark,  especially  in  the  timber  where  we  were. 
Wounded  comrades  had  to  be  removed  and 
cared  for;  this  had  to  be  done  quietly,  as  the 
enemy  was  in  whispering  distance.  As  heretofore 
stated,  Company  D  of  the  7th  Virginia  carried 
into  the  battle  of  Second  Manassas  forty  men,  of 


142  THE  STORY  OF 

which  sixteen  were  killed  and  wounded,  leaving 
twenty-four,  including  commissioned  officers. 
After  crossing  the  Potomac  and  on  entering  the 
battle  at  Boonsboro  Gap,  we  had  twenty-one 
commissioned  officers  and  men.  In  this  battle 
were  lost  four  men:  T.  P.  Mays,  killed;  James 
Cole,  mortally  wounded;  George  Knoll,  severely, 
and  John  R.  Crawford,  slightly  wounded.  Mays 
was  serving  in  the  capacity  of  ensign  of  the  regi- 
ment, and  died  at  the  front,  where  danger  was 
met  and  glory  won,  with  that  flag  which  he  had 
so  gallantly,  proudly  and  defiantly  borne  aloft  on 
many  victorious  fields.  Brave  and  undaunted, 
he  ever  led  where  duty  called,  sharing  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  of  camp  life,  the  march  and 
dangers  of  battle,  without  a  murmur,  and  dying 
with  his  flag  unfurled  and  its  staff  clenched  in 
his  hands.  May  the  memory  of  Tapley  P.  Mays 
rest  in  peace. 

With  two  commissioned  officers,  Captain  Bane 
and  Lieutenant  Stone,  and  fifteen  men  we  left  the 
field  a  little  after  9  o'clock  at  night,  carrying  one 
of  the  wounded,  George  Knoll,  who  had  an  ankle 
bone  fractured.  Knoll  was  borne  on  the  back  of 
Isaac  Hare  a  mile  or  more  to  the  hospital  in 
Boonsboro. 

The  officers  and  men  of  Company  D  who  went 
into  the  battle  of  Boonsboro  were  Capt.  R.  H. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  143 

Bane,  Lieut.  E.  M.  Stone;  men  of  the  line,  Travis 
Burton,  John  R.  Crawford,  James  Cole,  John  S. 
Dudley,  John  A.  Hale,  Isaac  Hare,  B.  L.  Hoge, 
J.  J.  Hurt,  John  F.  Jones,  David  E.  Johnston, 
George  Knoll,  John  Meadows,  T.  P.  Mays,  W. 
W.  Munsey,  William  D.  Peters,  W.  H.  H.  Sni- 
dow,  R.  M.  Stafford,  Thomas  S.  Taylor  and  A. 
J.  Thompson.  The-  cook  in  Company  D,  Alex- 
ander Bolton,  remained  with  the  supply  trains 
and  was  not  in  the  engagement. 

The  forces  in  this  battle  on  the  Federal  side, 
according  to  the  report  of  General  McClellan, 
numbered  30,000,  while  the  Confederate  force, 
as  stated  by  General  D.  H.  Hill  and  others,  was 
9000.  The  Federal  loss  was  181 3  in  fifty-nine 
infantry  regiments  engaged;  325  killed,  1403 
wounded,  and  85  missing.  The  Confederate  loss 
was  224  killed,  860  wounded,  and  800  made  pris- 
oners. There  are  but  few  regimental  reports  of 
losses,  therefore  I  am  unable  to  give  those  in  the 
7th  Virginia.  I  am  satisfied  that  of  the  four 
brigades  of  Evans,  Kemper,  Garnett  and  Jenkins, 
sent  late  in  the  evening  to  reinforce  the  Confed- 
erate left,  not  more  than  one  thousand  men 
reached  the  firing  line,  but  these  were  iron  soldiers 
equal  to  the  emergency,  holding  more  than  5000 
of  the  enemy  at  bay  until  we  were  ready  to  leave 
the  field.     The  superb  fighting  in  this  battle — 


144  THE  STORY  OF 

if  at  this  day  a  fight  can  be  called  something 
superb — prevented  the  enemy  from  occupying  the 
Gap,  thus  sealing  the  fate  of  the  Union  garrison 
at  Harper's  Ferry,  which  surrendered  the  follow- 
ing morning,  the  tidings  whereof  came  to  us 
about  noon,  causing  much  rejoicing. 

Now  set  in  an  all  night'si  march  to  the  scene 
of  the  struggle  at  Sharpsburg,  called  in  the 
North  "Antietam,"  among  the  most  gigantic  and 
awful  in  the  history  of  warfare.  When  daylight 
came  Monday,  we  were  at  Keedysville,  midway 
between  the  points  mentioned,  not  having  reached 
the  field  of  Sharpsburg  until  12  o'clock.  Having 
been  on  our  feet  all  night,  without  sleep  or  food, 
save  green  corn  or  apples,  placed  us  in  no  cheer- 
ful mood,  but  in  good  fighting  temper,  as  hungry 
soldiers  fight  better  than  well  fed  ones.  Num- 
bers of  men  straggled  off  along  the  march,  and 
even  after  the  Antietam  was  crossed,  in  search 
of  food,  a  number  of  whom  did  not  get  back  in 
the  ranks  for  the  battle. 


Lieut.  John  W.   Muilins 


Chapter  XIV 


Number  of  Men  for  Action  in  Kemper's  Brigade. 

General  D.  R.  Jones'  Division. 

Confederate  Cavalry. 

General  Lee  Playing  Bluff  with  McClellan. 

The  Opening  of  the  Battle. 

Burnside's  Attack  and  Repulse. 

The  Casualties. 

Re-crossing  the  Potomac. 


WHEN  Kemper's  brigade  was  called  to 
action  at  Sharpsburg,  it  did  not  number 
400  muskets.  The  only  regimental  re- 
port accessible  of  the  number  going  into  action 
and  the  loss  is  that  of  Colonel  Corse  of  the  17th 
Virginia  (himself  wounded),  who  says  he  led 
into  the  action  fifty-five  officers  and  men,  all  of 
whom  were  lost  but  five.  The  1st  Virginia  did 
not  number  more  than  30,  the  nth  Virginia  85. 
the  24th  probably  no,  and  I  know  (for  I  counted 
them)  that  the  "th  Virginia  had;  but  117,  Com- 
pany D  having  but  two  commissioned  officers 
and  fifteen  men  before  action  began.  Sergeant 
Taylor,  sent  in  quest  of  rations,  did  not  return 
with  the  food  until  the  battle  had  ended.  John 
S.  Dudley,  on  the  skirmish  line,  was  wounded  and 
captured.  He,  with  Taylor,  made  the  fifteen,  leav- 
ing for  battle  two  officers  and  thirteen  men. 
Kemper's  brigade  belonged  to  General  D.  R. 
Jones'  division,  which  was  composed  of  the 
brigades  of  Jenkins,  Garnett,  Jones,  under  Colonel 
Geo.  T.  Anderson,  Drayton,  Kemper  and  Toombs, 
numbering  on  that  morning,  by  the  report  of 
General  Jones,  2400  men — far  too  many. 

The  division  of  General  Jones  held  the  ground 
in  front  and  southeast  of  Sharpsburg,  extending 


148  THE  STORY  OF 

from  the  Boonsboro-Sharpsburg  pike  along  the 
ridges  and  range  of  hills  in  front,  south  and  east 
of  the  old  road  to  Harper's  Ferry,  nearly  a  mile 
in  length,  covering  the  approaches  from  what 
has  since  been  known  as  Burnside's  bridge  over 
the  Antietam.  Robertson's  cavalry  brigade,  un- 
der Colonel  Thomas  T.  Munford,  was  in  observa- 
tion on  the  extreme  right  along  the  Antietam  and 
toward  the  Potomac;  General  Stuart,  with  Gen- 
eral Fitzhugh  Lee's  cavalry  brigade,  the  13th 
Virginia  regiment  of  infantry,  with  a  number  of 
batteries  holding  the  extreme  Confederate  left, 
Hampton's  cavalry  brigade  not  in  the  fight,  but 
in  reserve,  in  rear  of  Stuart's  position. 

It  is  stated  upon  authority  that  during  Mon- 
day, September  15,  and  for  most  of  Tuesday,  the 
1 6th,  General  Lee  confronted  General  McClel- 
lan's  Union  army  with  only  the  divisions  of 
Longstreet  and  D.  H.  Hill,  numbering  all  told 
10,000  men,  while  General  McClellan  had 
60,000  men  then  facing  Lee. 

In  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  and  continuing 
for  the  most  of  Tuesday,  the  Federal  batteries 
across  the  Antietam  kept  up  a  lively  fire,  during 
which  the  troops,  our  brigade  included,  frequently 
shifted  position,  showing  our  flags  first  at  one 
and  then  at  another  place,  being  exposed  to  the 
artillery  fire,  and  getting  a  severe  shelling.  Gen- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  149 

eral  Lee  was  playing  bluff  with  McClellan,  who 
was  led  to  believe — and  so  reported!  to  his  gov- 
ernment— that  he  was  confronted  not  only  by 
"a  strong  position,  but  by  a  strong  force" — 
imaginary  numbers,  not  real. 

Late  in  the  evening  of  Tuesday  the  firing  to 
the  left  seemed  to  increase.  We  heard  not  only 
the  artillery  fire  but  the  rattle  of  musketry  for 
quite  a  time  after  dark.  Before  daylight  on 
Wednesday,  the  17th,  the  artillery  opened  vigor- 
ously on  the  left,  followed  by  the  crash  of  small 
arms,  the  battle  raging  with  intense  fury  for 
hours.  From  our  position  on  the  right  we  could 
not  see  the  combatants,  but  could  hear  the  crash 
of  small  arms  and  the  wild  rebel  yell.  As  long 
as  we  could  hear  this  yell  we  felt  that  things  were 
going  our  way. 

The  battle  which  began  on  the  left  had  at  noon 
extended  to  the  right  until  the  Confederate  troops 
holding  the  open  ground  on  the  left  front  of 
Sharpsburg  were  within  our  view.  We  discov- 
ered at  this  time  a  straggling  retreating  line  of 
Confederates  closely  followed  by  a  solid  blue 
line,  which  soon  met  the  fire  of  a  Confederate 
battery,  causing  it  to  retire. 

Now  affairs  in  our  front  began  to  claim  our 
attention.  The  24th  Virginia  regiment  was  de- 
tached from  the  brigade  and  sent  a  half  mile  to 


150  THE  STORY  OF 

the  right,  and  shortly  thereafter  the  7th  Vir- 
ginia under  Captain  Phil  S.  Ashby  was  detached 
and  hurried  to  the  right,  taking  position  in  front 
of  the  old  road  leading  from  Sharpsburg  to  Har- 
per's Ferry,  between  the  position  held  by  the  1st, 
nth  and  17th  Virginia  regiments  of  the  brigade, 
and  that  held  by  the  24th  regiment.  Upon  the 
advance  of  the  enemy  we  dropped  back  into  the 
old  road  referred  to.  Captain  Ashby  had  been 
a  soldier  in  our  war  with  Mexico,  was  a  brave 
man,  and  when  he  had  placed  the  regiment  in  the 
road,  seeing  the  advance  of  the  enemy  he  drew 
his  sword,  saying:  "Men,  we  are  to  hold  this 
position  at  all  hazards.  Not  a  man  leave  his  place. 
If  need  be,  we  will  die  together  here  in  this  road." 
Putting  our  muskets  through  the  board  fence,  and 
with  ringers  on  the  triggers,  we  awaited  the 
enemy's  approach  through  a  strip  of  corn,  some 
forty  yards  away.* 

Colonel  Geo.  T.  Anderson's  brigade  of  D.  R. 
Jones'  division  had  early  in  the  morning  been 
detached  and  sent  to  the  aid  of  General  Jackson, 
and  Garnett's  brigade  had  been  taken  away  and 
placed  in  position  to  cover  the  front  of  Sharps- 
burg. General  Lee  had  stripped  his  right  in  aid  of 
his  left,  which  was  being  sorely  pressed,  leaving 
General  Jones  to  hold  the  right  with  the  small 

*The  headlong  rush  of  Archer's  brigade  across  the  front 
of  the  7th  Virginia  regiment  prevented  its  firing  into  the 
enemy. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  151 

brigades  of  Jenkins,  Garnett,  Drayton,  Kemper 
and  Toombs,  whose  numbers  I  will  later  attempt 
to  give. 

Two  of  General  Toombs'  regiments,  the  15th 
and  17th  Georgia,  were  guarding  ammunition 
trains,  and  he,  with  the  2d  and  the  20th  Georgia, 
and  50th  Georgia  of  Drayton's  brigade — in  all 
numbering  403  men — with  a  company  of  sharp- 
shooters and  a  battery,  was  ordered  to  the  de- 
fense of  the  bridge  (Burnside's).  On  Wednes- 
day morning  at  an  early  hour  General  Burnside, 
who  had  been  ordered  to  carry  the  bridge  and 
advance  to  the  heights  at  Sharpsburg,  assailed 
General  Toombs'  men  at  the  bridge.  The  stream 
is  small,  and  at  the  time  of  the  battle  afforded 
but  little  water — could  have  been  waded  in 
dozens  of  places.  Why  the  bridge?  Burnside 
made  the  effort  to  carry  the  bridge,  was  five 
times  repulsed  by  Toombs'  small  force,  losing  a 
large  number  of  men  in  killed  and  wounded — 
exacting,  however,  from  Toombs'  regiments 
heavy  toll,  for  his  2d  Georgia  lost  one-half  its 
numbers,  and  the  20th  Georgia  suffered  heavily. 
General  Toombs,  finding  the  enemy  crossing  the 
stream  at  a  ford  below  the  bridge,  and  the  posi- 
tion no  longer  tenable,  withdrew  his  men  and 
retired  to  the  heights  on  which  Jones'  four 
brigades — Jenkins',  Garnett's,  Drayton's  and 
Kemper's — were  posted.     General  Toombs  was 


152  THE  STORY  OF 

joined  on  the  way  by  his  15th  and  17th  Georgia, 
and  Major  Little's  battalion  of  140  Georgia 
men.  His  20th  Georgia  had  been  sent  to  replen- 
ish its  ammunition,  and  only  part  of  these  men 
returned  in  time  for  the  final  contest. 

The  enemy  came  in  bold  march  at  4  P.  M.  He 
came  in  fine  style  and  good  order  until  probably 
half  way  from  the  Antietam  to  the  crest  of  the 
heights,  whereon  stood  the  depleted  Confederate 
battalions  of  Jenkins,  Garnett,  Drayton  and 
Kemper,  when  he  encountered  the  Confederate 
skirmish  line  posted  behind  stone  and  rail  fences. 
These  skirmishes  repulsed  and  routed  the  Union 
skirmishers,  making  it  so  hot  for  the  enemy's 
front  battle  line  that  it  was  only  able  to  push 
forward  by  its  mere  momentum,  but  on  it  came, 
overrunning,  killing,  wounding  and  capturing 
the  entire  skirmish  line,  the  men  thereof  remain- 
ing in  their  places,  firing  until  he  reached  the 
muzzles  of  their  muskets.  The  enemy's  battle 
line  overreached  Kemper's  right  by  several  hun- 
dred yards,  exposing  Mcintosh's  battery,  the  men 
thereof  for  the  time  being  forced  to  abandon  their 
guns.  Kemper's  and  Drayton's  men  were 
broken  off,  outflanked  and  forced  back  to  the 
outskirts  of  the  village. 

General  A.  P.  Hill  with  five  small  Confederate 
brigades   which    had    left   Harper's    Ferry   that 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  153 

morning,  marching  seventeen  miles,  reached  the 
field  at  the  opportune  moment.  Leaving  two  of 
his  brigades  to  guard  the  approach  from  a  ford 
on  his  right,  General  Hill  threw  the  brigades  of 
Gregg,  Archer  and  Branch  on  the  enemy's  left 
front  and  flank,  while  General  Toombs,  who  had 
circled  around  the  enemy's  left,  being  joined  by 
the  men  of  Kemper,  Jenkins,  Garnett  and  Dray- 
ton, together  with  Hill's  three  brigades,  with  a 
wild  yell  charged,  the  Confederate  batteries 
opening  fiercely;  the  enemy  was  driven  from  the 
field,  mostly  in  disorder,  fleeing  to  the  banks  of 
the  Antietam  for  shelter.  The  field  was  won,  the 
day  was  ours.  In  this  headlong  Confederate 
charge,  General  Branch  of  Hill's  division  was 
killed;  General  Gregg  of  the  same  division  and 
General  Toombs  of  Jones'  division,  wounded. 
Federal  General  Rodman  was  mortally  wounded. 
The  24th  and  7th  Virginia  suffered  a  few  casual- 
ties in  killed  and  wounded,  mostly  from  the 
artillery  fire,  a  few  by  musket  balls.  My  com- 
pany lost  Hare,  and  Dudley  wounded,  the  latter 
captured  on  the  skirmish  line. 

With  the  utter  defeat  of  General  Burnside's 
Federal  Army  Corps,  the  battle  ended,  and 
Kemper's  brigade  occupied  that  night  and  the 
next  day  the  same  position  it  held  when  the  bat- 
tle in  our  front  opened. 


154  THE  STORY  OF 

No  fiercer,  bloodier  one  day's  conflict  occurred 
during  the  war  than  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg, 
which  was  fought  on  the  part  of  the  Confederates 
by  a  worn  out,  broken  down,  naked,  barefooted, 
lame  and  starved  soldiery,  against  a  far  superior 
force  of  brave,  well  rested,  well  clothed  and  well 
fed  veterans.  It  was  an  all  day,  stand  up,  toe-to- 
toe  and  face-to- face  fight,  just  as  close  as  brave 
American  soldiers  could  make  it,  and  in  none 
other  did  Southern  individuality  and  self  reliance 
— characteristics  of  the  Confederate  soldier — 
shine  more  brilliantly  or  perform  a  more  import- 
ant part.  It  was  on  this  field  that  strategy  and 
military  science  won  the  day  for  the  Confeder- 
ates. It  was  mind  over  matter.  General  Lee, 
the  greatest  military  man  of  the  age,  was  on  the 
field,  wielding  the  blade  that  was  so  admirably 
tempered,  which  brought  blood  and  destruction 
at  every  stroke. 

The  failure  of  the  Union  soldiers  to  win  this 
battle  and  utterly  crush  the  Confederates,  was 
no  fault  of  theirs;  they  had  the  numbers  and 
equipment,  were  courageous  and  brave.  The 
truth  is,  their  leader  was  timid,  overcautious,  and 
outgeneraled,  fought  his  battle  in  detail,  and  was 
defeated  in  detail.  General  Burnside's,  the  larg- 
est single  attacking  corps,  was  beaten  before  he 
had  his  columns  fairly  deployed,  and  this  because 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  155 

the  Confederates  outmaneuvered  him  on  the  field, 
had  the  flanks  of  his  assaulting  columns  turned 
before  he  knew  there  was  any  Confederate  force 
on  the  ground  to  turn  them.  Upon  this  occurring, 
he  lost  control  of  the  battle,  and  the  only  thing 
apparent  to  him  was  to  get  away  as  quickly  as 
possible,  which  he  did,  though  his  battle  had  not 
lasted  an  hour. 

The  force  engaged  in  this  battle  on  the  Con- 
federate right,  on  the  Union  side,  was  that  of 
General  Burnside's  9th  army  corps,  consisting  of 
twenty-nine  regiments  of  infantry,  six  batteries 
of  artillery,  and  two  companies  of  cavalry,  mak- 
ing, according  to  the  most  reliable  information 
obtainable,  an  aggregate  of  13,083.  His  losses 
were:  Killed,  436;  wounded,  1796;  missing, 
115;  total,  2349. 

On  the  Confederate  side  the  battle  was  fought 
by  the  brigades  of  Jenkins,  Garnett,  Toombs, 
Kemper  and  Drayton  (two  regiments,  51st 
Georgia  and  15th  South  Carolina)  ;  Gregg's, 
Archer's  and  Branch's  (less  the  18th  North  Car- 
olina, on  detached  duty),  of  Hill's  division.  The 
24th  and  the  7th  Virginia,  except  their  skirmish- 
ers, did  not  pull  a  trigger,  but  were  under  the 
fire  of  the  artillery  and  partly  that  of  infantry. 
Nor  did  the  18th  North  Carolina  take  part  in 
the  battle. 


156  THE  STORY  OF 

From  the  best  information  I  have  been  able 
to  obtain,  from  the  official  reports  and  otherwise, 
I  fix  the  number  of  Confederates  in  this  battle 
against  General  Burnside's  13,083  men  as  follows : 

Jenkins'  brigade 500 

Garnett's  brigade 250 

Drayton's  brigade    (51st   Ga.    & 

15th  S.  C.  Regmts.)   200 

Kemper's  brigade 300 

Toombs'  brigade  (including  Maj. 

Little's  bat.,  140) 600 

Total  Jones'  Division 1850 

A.  P.  Hill's  three  brigades,  less 
1 8th  North  Carolina,  detached  1900 

Total,  both  divisions 3750 

Casualties — General  Jones  reports,  including 
the  battle  of  Boonsboro,  1435.  Toombs'  brigade 
was  not  at  Boonsboro,  and  the  brigade  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Geo.  T.  Anderson  was  de- 
tached in  the  early  morning,  and  we  have  no 
reports  from  the  28th  Virginia  regiment  of 
Garnett's  brigade,  and  only  in  part  from  Toombs' 
regiments,  and  but  from  one  regiment  of 
Kemper's.  Approximately,  however,  the  losses 
were  as  follows : 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  157 

Col.  Walker,  commanding  brigade 
of  Jenkins,  reports 210 

Taking-  4  regiments  of  Garnett's 
and  averaging  the  5th 80 

Drayton's  two  regiments,  esti- 
mated          100 

Kemper's  regiments,  estimated..      160 

Toombs,  stated    346 

Total  996 

The  disparity  in  numbers  on  this  part  of  the 
field  was  probably  greater  than  on  any  other — • 
nearly  three  and  a  half  to  one. 

There  has  been,  and  probably  will  always  be, 
uncertainty  as  to  the  number  of  men  General  Lee 
had  in  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg.  Colonel  Tay- 
lor, of  the  staff  of  General  Lee,  and  Adjutant 
General  of  the  army,  puts  the  number  at  35,250 
— including  cavalry  and  artillery,  putting  the  in- 
fantry force  at  27,255.  This  is  surely  incorrect 
for  the  reasons :  first,  that  the  returns  of  the 
army  on  the  20th  of  July,  1862,  a  few  days  be- 
fore the  movement  of  the  army  to  North  Vir- 
ginia from  Richmond  began,  show  the  total 
cavalry  3740.  In  the  second  place  the  fact  is 
well  known  that  the  cavalry  and  artillery  had 
been  engaged  in  the  battle  of  Cedar  Run,  the  bat- 


158  THE  STORY  OF 

ties  around  Manassas,  and  at  South  Mountain, 
Harper's  Ferry,  Crampton's  Pass,  and  Boons- 
boro,  and  the  losses  must  have  been  large;  and 
again,  there  were  only  three  brigades  of  Con- 
federate cavalry  at  Sharpsburg — Lee's,  Hamp- 
ton's and  Robertson's,  the  latter  under  Munford, 
and  there  is  no  evidence  that  either  of  the  two 
latter  named  fired  a  shot  at  Sharpsburg.  Lee's 
brigade  could  not  have  numbered  more  than  a 
third  of  the  cavalry  force,  say  1500 — a  liberal 
estimate — and  the  artillerists  1800.  We  have 
3300.  A  careful  examination  of  all  the  sources 
of  information  available  to  me,  including  official 
reports,  and  my  own  personal  knowledge  and 
observation  on  the  march  and  on  the  field,  in- 
clines me  strongly  to  the  opinion  and  belief  that 
the  Confederate  troops  on  the  field  of  Sharps- 
burg on  the  firing  line  and  actually  engaged  on 
the  17th  of  September  numbered: 

Jackson's   division    _ 1600 

Ewell's  division    3400 

D.  H.  Hill's  division  3000 

D.  R.  Jones'  division 1850 

A.  P.  Hill's  division 1900 

Hood's  division    2000 

McLaws'   division    2893 

R.  H.  Anderson's  division 35°° 

J.  G.  Walker's  division  3200 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  159 

Geo.  T.  Anderson's  brigade 300 

N.  G.  Evans'  division 1500 

Lee's  cavalry  brigade 1500 

Artillerists 1800 

Total    28,443 

Note: — There  is  no  evidence  that  Armistead's 
brigade  of  R.  H.  Anderson's  division  drew 
trigger  in  this  battle. 

The  Confederate  casualties  in  the  Mary- 
land campaign  as  given  in  the  War 
Records    13,609 

The  Federal  casualties,  including  the  gar- 
rison at  Harper's  Ferry  ,2'],']£>'] 

Deducting  the  Harper's  Ferry  garrison, 
we  have  the  Federal  losses  of  the  cam- 
paign       15.203 

Deducting  Federal  losses  at  Boonsboro 
Gap  of  18 1 3.  Crampton's  Gap  533,  we 
have  approximately  as  the  Federal  loss 
in  battle  of  Sharpsburg 12,856 

Deducting  the  estimated  Confederate  loss 
at  Boonsboro  Gap,  Crampton's  Gap  and 
Harper's  Ferry,  3948,  from  the  cam- 
paign loss,  we  have  approximately  as 
the  Confederate  loss  at  Sharpsburg  .  .     9,661 

The  actual  number  of  Union  soldiers  on  the 


160  THE  STORY  OF 

firing  line  in  the  battle  of  Sharpsburg  could  not 
have  exceeded  68,000  men,  but  Porter's  corps, 
some  19,000,  was  close  up  in  the  center  in  re- 
serve, with  more  than  14,000,  only  a  march  away. 
The  night  of  the  battle  several  of  our  men  went 
out  on  the  battlefield,  to  look  after  the  dead  and 
wounded  and  for  other  purposes.  Among  those 
from  my  company  who  went  out  in  this  way  were 
Travis  Burton  and  Lieutenant  Stone,  who  shortly 
returned  with  an  unwounded  prisoner  of  a 
Rhode  Island  regiment,  who  had  failed  to  get 
away  with  his  retreating  comrades.  This  pris- 
oner was  a  mere  boy,  who  exhibited  considerable 
signs  of  fear  and  trepidation,  and  with  whom 
Captain  Ashby  had  quite  a  little  fun. 

On  passing  over  a  battlefield  after  the  close  of 
the  battle,  it  will  usually  be  observed  that  the 
pockets  of  the  dead,  and  sometimes  of  the 
wounded,  have  been  turned  out.  A  soldier  will 
generally  take  from  the  battlefield  and  the  dead 
what  he  wants. 

The  next  day,  the  18th,  was  in  the  main  quiet, 
with  some  little  picket  firing;  the  wounded  were 
being  cared  for  and  the  dead  buried.  In  the  im- 
mediate front  of  our  brigade,  some  fifty  yards 
away,  the  farthest  point  reached  by  Harland's 
Federal  brigade  the  day  before,  and  the  ground 
on  which  it  stood,  when  charged  by  the  brigades 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  161 

# 

of  Toombs  and  Kemper,  I  counted  the  bodies  of 
33  dead  Union  soldiers  of  the  8th  Connecticut 
regiment.  One  of  the  wounded  was  still  living, 
to  whom  I  gave  a  drink  of  water  and  filled  his 
canteen.  During  the  day  a  man  of  our  regi- 
ment, who  had  gone  forward  to  help  remove  the 
Federal  wounded,  was  shot  through  the  body 
and  killed  by  a  Federal  sharpshooter,  who  was 
so  far  away  that  the  report  from  his  rifle  was 
not  heard  by  the  men  eng-ag-ed  in  the  removal  of 
the  wounded. 

On  the  night  of  the  i8th,  we  left  the  battle  line, 
moving  to  the  Potomac,  wading  the  river  at  the 
ford  near  Sheperdstown,  and  instead  of  singing 
when  crossing  the  river  thirteen  days  before, 
"Maryland,  MY  Maryland!"  the  song  was, 
"Carry  me  back,  oh !  carry  me  back  to  old  Vir- 
ginia, once  more." 

A  halt  was  made  some  three  miles  from  the 
river ;  moving-  in  'a  day  or  two  to  near  Bunker 
Hill,  and  again  to  a  point  nearer  to  Winchester, 
close  by  a  large  spring,  where  we  received  quite 
a  number  of  accessions  to  our  ranks  by  the  re- 
turn of  the  shoeless,  sick,  and  some  wounded 
men  left  along'  the  route  of  our  advance  into 
Maryland. 


Chapter  XV 


From  Winchester  to  Culpeper. 

Reorganization  of  the  Army. 

What  Happened  at  Culpeper. 

To  Fredericksburg  and  Battle  There. 

In  Winter  Quarters. 

Incidents  of  the  Camp. 


LONGSTREET'S  command  left  the  vicinity 
of  Winchester  the  latter  part  of  October, 
1862,  crossing-  the  Shenandoah  river,  Blue 
Ridge,  and  reaching  Culpeper  the  early  part  of 
the  first  week  in  November,  going  into  camp  a 
short  distance  southeast  of  the  court  house.  Sev- 
eral companies  of  the  7th  regiment  were  from 
Orange,  Culpeper,  Madison  and  Rappahannock, 
and  while  in  this  camp  the  friends  of  these  men 
came  with  wagons  loaded  with  provisions  and 
clothing,  supplying  many  of  their  needs,  and  re- 
lieving much  of  their  suffering. 

Here  the  reorganization  of  the  army  was  ef- 
fected into  two  army  corps,  the  first  commanded 
by  General  James  Longstreet.  the  second  by  Gen- 
eral Thomas  J.  (Stonewall)  Jackson.  Later  a 
third  corps  was  organized,  of  which  Lieutenant 
General  A.  P.  Hill  was  appointed  commander. 
Pickett's  division*  was  also  organized,  composed 
of  five  brigades,  as  follows : 

First  brigade.  General  James  L.  Kemper :  regi- 
ments 1st.  3d.  7th.  nth  and  24th  Virginia. 

Second  brigade.  General  R.  B,  Garnett :  regi- 
ments 8th,  18th,  19th.  28th  and  56th  Virginia. 

Third  brigade.  General  Lewis  A.  Armistead : 
regiments  9th,  14th,  38th.  53d  and  57th  Virginia. 


166  THE  STORY  OF 

Fourth  brigade,  General  M.  D.  Corse:  regi- 
ments 15th,  17th,  29th,  30th  and  32d  Virginia. 

These  four  Virginia  brigades  were  composed 
of  the  flower  of  the  state. 

Jenkins'  South  Carolina  brigade — General  M. 
Jenkins:  regiments  Palmetto  sharpshooters,  1st, 
2d,  3d,  4th,  5th  and  6th  South  Carolina,  and  4th 
battalion. 

To  which  was  attached  the  following  Virginia 
artillery :  Major  Dearing's  38th  battalion,  with 
Caskie's,  Stribling's  and  Latham's  batteries. 

Many  additions  were  made  to  the  ranks  at 
Culpeper,  greatly  increasing  our  strength;  the 
organization  now  being  better  as  to  numbers  and 
discipline  than  at  any  previous  period.  The 
health  of  the  soldiers  was  also  much  improved; 
the  entire  army,  however,  still  being  deficient  in 
equipment,  especially  shoes,  overcoats  and 
blankets,  and  the  chilly  November  winds,  the 
precursor  of  that  fearfully  cold  winter  just  ahead, 
causing  suffering  among  the  men,  who  bore  the 
same  without  murmuring — such  was  their  metal. 
The  weather  by  this  time  had  become  quite  cold, 
the  men  building  strong  fires,  and  to  keep  off  the 
cold  ground  at  night  they  procured,  when  pos- 
sible, two  or  three  flat  fence  rails,  placing  them 
near  the  fire,  lying  down  upon  them.     Such  was 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  167 

their   feather   bed,    covering  themselves   with   a 
blanket  if  they  chanced  to  have  one. 

Here  the  writer  was  appointed  Sergeant- 
Major  of  the  regiment,  succeeding  Sergeant- 
Major  Park,  disabled  in  the  second  battle  of 
Manassas — an  honor  as  proud  as  anything  that 
has  come  to  him  since. 

The  march  to  Fredericksburg  began  Novem- 
ber 1 8,  over  the  old  plank  road,  passing  through 
the  Wilderness  and  Chancellorsville,  soon  to  be 
drenched  in  blood  in  the  most  famous  battles  of 
the  war — Chancellorsville,  Wilderness  and 
Spottsylvania.  Here  it  may  be  said  that  in  the 
County  of  Spottsylvania  more  important  battles 
were  fought,  more  blood  shed  and  more  men 
killed  and  wounded,  and  more  soldiers  lie  buried, 
than  in  any  other  county  in  the  United  States. 
Here  were  fought  the  first  and  second  battles  of 
Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  the  two  days 
Wilderness,  and  the  series  of  battles  in  and 
around  Spottsylvania  court  house,  including 
countless  skirmishes  and  cavalry  combats.  It  is 
no  exaggeration  to  say  that  the  men  killed  and 
wounded  in  the  battles,  skirmishes  and  combats 
in  the  county  reached  100,000. 

When  we  reached  the  vicinity  of  Fredericks- 
burg, snow  had  fallen  to  the  depth  of  two  inches 
or  so,  which  had  to  be  cleared  off  to  find  a  dry 


168  THE  STORY  OF 

place  to  go  to  bed.  Here  we  remained  for 
twenty  or  more  days,  performing  no  guard  duty, 
but  kept  busy  gathering  fuel  to  make  fires  to  keep 
warm.  Eating  our  rations  gave  us  little  trouble, 
not  nearly  so  much  as  when  or  where  the  next 
would  come  from.  The  men  smoked,  some 
croaked — for  it  must  be  remarked  that  in  the 
army  there  are  chronic  grumblers,  who  complain 
of  short  rations,  continually  saying  the  war 
would  never  end;  others  that  we  were  going  to 
be  whipped  in  the  next  fight;  but  men  of  this 
class  were  few  in  number,  the  greater  part  in 
good  spirits,  buoyant  with  hope  and  confident  of 
the  final  triumph  of  our  cause. 

At  early  dawn,  December  1 1 ,  we  stood  to  arms, 
continuing  to  do  so  until  early  Saturday  morning, 
the  13th,  two  days  and  nights,  then  moving  out 
from  camp  in  the  direction  of  the  Rappahannock. 
The  two  days'  suspense  just  alluded  to  proved  a 
severe  task  on  the  staying  powers  of  the  strong- 
est men.  Our  march  now  continued  until  we 
reached  a  point  overlooking  the  river  valley.  Al- 
though frosty,  the  air  bracing,  a  dense  fog 
hovered  pall-like  over  the  valley  below,  shutting 
off  from  our  view  the  enemy,  now  in  full  force 
along  the  river,  and  the  broad  bottom  land  at 
our  feet.  As  the  sun  broke  away  the  fog,  the 
movement   continuing,   there  was   heard  to  our 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  169 

left  occasional  rattle  of  musketry.  Meeting  a 
negro  man  loaded  with  blankets,  canteens,  haver- 
sacks and  general  baggage,  puffing  as  if  almost 
out  of  breath,  with  great  drops  of  sweat  as  big  as 
peas  on  his  face — someone  said  to  him :  "Hello, 
Uncle!  Where  are  you  going?" 
His  answer  was,  "To  de  r'ar,  Sah !" 
Then  the  query,  "To  what  command  do  you 
belong?" 

"Barksdale's  brigade,  Sah." 
"Is  it  running,  too?" 

"No,  boss,  it  never  runs,  but  I  always  do." 
By  this  time  the  fog  had  so  lifted  that  we 
could  see  in  front  far  to  our  right  the  gleam  of 
a  long  line  of  bayonets,  though  we  could  not  see 
the  men  who  held  the  guns.  We  halted  on  the 
break  of  the  heights,  where  we  witnessed  the 
combat  between  the  Federal  and  Confederate 
skirmishers  of  Jackson's  command,  as  well  also 
as  the  assault  by  a  part  of  the  Federal  line  of  bat- 
tle against  Jackson's  men.  and  the  repulse  of  the 
Federals.  Not  being  longer  permitted  to  enjoy 
the  further  progress  of  the  battle  on  that  part  of 
the  field,  we  were  now  hastened  down  the  hill 
and  formed  in  line  of  battle  in  a  wood  with  an 
open  field  in  front ;  the  fog,  however,  still  bothered 
in  seeing  the  game  we  were  watching.  The 
dictates  of  self  preservation  impelled  us  to  throw 


J- 


170  THE  STORY  OF 

up  some  rude  breastworks,  which  would  furnish 
fair  protection  from  rifle  or  musket  balls,  but 
none  from  artillery  fire.  While  in  this  position, 
where  we  remained  until  the  middle  of  the  after- 
noon, there  could  be  heard  the  commands  of  the 
officers  of  the  enemy  quite  as  distinctly  as  those 
of  our  own. 

Many  of  the  men  without  overcoats  and  thinly 
clad  stood  shivering-  from  the  cold  fog,  their 
beards  white  with  frost.  General  Kemper  came 
along  and  made  a  patrioticv^soul-'s'tirring  speech, 
which  had  a  good  effect ^-upon  the  men,  also  mak- 
ing similar  speeches  to  other  regiments  of  the 
brigade. 

The  Confederates  on  the  left  at  the  foot  of 
Marye's  Hill  being  heavily  pressed,  our  brigade 
was  withdrawn  and  pushed  across  the  hills  and 
valleys  to  a  position  in  rear  and  easy  supporting 
distance  of  the  troops  holding  position  at  the 
foot  of  the  hill.  While  in  this  new  position,  the 
musket  and  rifle  balls  of  the  enemy  flew  thick 
and  fast,  a  number  being  wounded,  among  them 
Lewis  N.  Wiley,  of  D  company,  one  ball  striking 
the  writer's  left  foot,  which  had  become  so  hard 
by  going  without  shoes  that  but  little  injury  was 
inflicted.  At  dark  and  as  the  last  charge  of  the 
enemy  was  repulsed,  our  brigade  moved  forward, 
relieving   some   Georgia    and     North    Carolina 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  171 

troops;  the  left  of  my  regiment  resting  on  the 
road  leading  out  of  Fredericksburg  over  the  hill, 
and  extending  to  the  right  on  the  upper  side  of  a 
road  leaving  the  last  named  road  at  right  angles ; 
occupying-  the  angle  made  by  these  roads,  where 
we  lay  down  on  the  upper  side  of  the  road  on  a 
wall  made  by  a  stone  fence  built  against  the  foot 
of  the  hill,  which  afforded  us  no  protection. 

The  i  st  Virginia  regiment  was  on  our  right 
and  in  line  in  the  road  and  behind  the  stone  fence ; 
the  men  of  our  regiment,  with  bayonets,  boards, 
sticks  and  tin  cups,  went  to  work  to  cut  a  trench 
on  top  of  the  wall  on  which  it  lay,  and  by  day- 
light the  next  morning-  had  made  themselves 
works  sufficient  to  protect  them  against  minnie 
balls. 

Around  us  lay  the  Confederate  dead,  two  dead 
Georgians  lying  in  the  midst  of  my  company,  by 
whose  side  the  writer  lay  down  and  slept.  The 
night  was  cool,  but  not  cold :  there  was  no  moon, 
but  bright  starlight,  to  which,  for  several  hours, 
was  added  the  Aurora  borealis.  About  midnight 
I  was  aroused  by  Captain  Bane,  who  said  to  me, 
"They  are  coming,"  and  with  my  ear  to  the 
ground  I  could  distinctly  hear  hoof  strokes  ap- 
proaching from  the  direction  of  the  city.  In  a 
moment  every  man  was  at  his  post,  musket  in 
hand;  dead  stillness  reigned.  The  mounted 
parties  rode  up  to  the  intersection  of  the  roads 


172  THE  STORY  OF 

and  were  captured  by  the  first  regiment.  The 
party  consisted  of  three  Federal  officers,  one  a 
member  of  General  Hooker's  staff.  They  had 
ridden  forward  to  examine  their  skirmish  line  and 
had  been  allowed  to  pass  through  unchallenged, 
finding  themselves  in  a  trap.  They  were  sent 
under  guard  to  the  provost-marshal  in  charge  of 
an  Irish  sergeant  and  guard  of  the  1st  Virginia. 
This  sergeant  on  his  return  next  morning,  while 
passing  our  company,  was  severely  wounded  by 
a  Federal  sharpshooter  standing  behind  the  corner 
of  a  brick  house  a  hundred  yards  or  more  away. 

We  had  been  advised  on  the  night  of  the  battle 
that  the  attack  was  expected  to  be  renewed  the 
next  morning,  in  view  of  which  we  had  been 
furnished  with  one  hundred  rounds  of  ammuni- 
tion, with  instructions  to  hold  the  position  at  all 
hazards,  that  we  would  be  supported  by  a  line  of 
battle  on  the  hill  in  our  rear.  The  attack  was 
not  made,  though  we  remained  in  position  during 
the  day  and  night,  skirmishing  and  sharpshooting. 
Xext  day  after  the  battle,  while  holding  the  line 
in  front  of  Fredericksburg,  some  of  our  boys 
carried  water  to  the  Federal  wounded  lying  in 
our  front,  though  at  the  risk  of  life. 

Amid  a  rainstorm  on  the  night  of  the  14th, 
the  enemy  stole  away  and  crossed  the  river.  The 
battle  over  and  the  danger  past,  we  retired  to  our 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  173 

camp  on  the  hills  south  of  Fredericksburg-,  where 
we  remained  for  nearly  two  months,  suffering 
much  from  cold,  want  of  clothing  and  shoes; 
many  of  the  barefooted  men  making  and  wearing 
rawhide  moccasins.  Frequently,  to  prevent  suf- 
fering at  night,  the  men  made  log  fires  and  in 
evening  rolled  away  the  burning  logs,  cleared 
away  the  fire  and  ashes  and  made  their  sleeping 
places  on  the  warm  earth  from  which  the  tire 
had  been  removed.  When  we  had  snow,  the  men 
would  fight  snowball  battles,  in  which  frequently 
someone  was  seriously  hurt.  We  did  little 
picket  or  guard  duty,  and  many  engaged  in  card 
playing.  Religious  exercises  were  now  infre- 
quent. I  recall  going  once  to  divine  services, 
when  the  Chaplain,  Mr.  McCarthy,  preached ;  and 
I  remember  to  this  good  day  the  text  which 
formed  the  basis  of  his  discourse.  It  was  from 
the  53d  chapter  of  Isaiah,  verse  i :  "Who  hath 
believed  our  report?  and  to  whom  is  the  arm  of 
the  Lord  revealed  ?" 

During  the  long,  dreary,  cold  two  months  fol- 
lowing the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  while  in 
camp  amid  privations  and  suffering,  the  men  dis- 
cussed freely  the  questions  touching  the  war,  its 
conduct,  and  prospects  for  peace.  The  soldiers 
talked  gravely  of  these  matters,  discussing  them 
frequently  with  much  earnestness,  not  a  few  be- 


174  THE  STORY  OF 

coming  homesick  and  longing  for  the  termina- 
tion of  the  game  of  conflict  and  death.  An  ever 
abiding  confidence  in  our  cause,  its  justness,  and 
our  belief  in  the  final  triumph  of  right  over  wrong 
coupled  with  invincible  spirits  ever  ready  to  brave 
the  storm  of  battle,  caused  our  sufferings  and 
hardships  to  be  treated  as  trivial,  as  compared 
with  the  issue  at  stake.  The  end,  however,  was 
not  yet  in  sight,  and  little  did  we  dream  that  it 
would  be  reached  as  it  was ;  for  while  it  was  sup- 
posed that  the  private  soldier  knew  little  of  what 
was  transpiring  throughout  the  country — North, 
South  or  in  Europe,  yet  it  is  a  fact  that  the  ques- 
tions of  resources  of  the  South  in  men  and  sup- 
plies; the  North  with  its  vast  resources,  with  the 
old  world  to  draw  upon  for  men  to  fight  its  bat- 
tles, were  frequently  talked  of,  as  well  as  the  re- 
mote possibility  of  foreign  intervention;  its  ef- 
fect upon  the  war;  the  peace  feeling  North,  and 
its  probable  effect.  Our  confidence  in  the  armies 
of  the  Confederacy,  and  our  ability  to  success- 
fully resist  the  Federal  armies  with  their  over- 
whelming numbers  was  scarcely  doubted.  It 
was  remarkable  what  confidence  the  men  reposed 
in  General  Lee;  they  were  ready  to  follow  him 
wherever  he  might  lead,  or  order  them  to  go. 

In  company  D  was  one,  Dan  East,  who  was 
never  in  a  battle,  and  never  intended  to  be;  yet 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  175 

Dan  knew  more  about  it  than  anyone  who  had 
gone  through  it ;  always  turning  up  after  the  bat- 
tle with  a  full  haversack,  good  blanket,  overcoat 
and  shoes.  As  usual,  Dan  walked  into  the  camp 
after  the  battle  of  Fredericksburg,  when  the 
Colonel  determined  to  punish  him;  he  caused  a 
placard  with  the  word  "Coward"  in  large  letters 
to  be  fastened  across  his  back,  and  with  rail  on  his 
shoulder  he  was  marched  to  and  fro  in  frost  of 
the  regiment ;  but  this  had  little  effect  on  Dan,  and 
the  first  opportunity  he  helped  himself  to  a  fel- 
low soldiers  clothing  and  other  goods,  which 
were  found  in  his  quarters.  The  men  of  the 
company  decided  to  rid  the  service  of  E>an  by 
whipping  him  out  of  it,  which  they  did. 

It  was  while  in  this  camp  that  a  rencounter 
occurred  between  Hight  and  Young,  both  large, 
stout,  athletic  men,  pretty  equally  matched  in 
size,  strength  and  good  mettle.  The  fight  was 
as  close  as  two  brave  men  could  make  it,  but 
friends  intervened  and  the  combatants  were 
separated. 

Let  us  now  return  to  the  result  of  the  battle  of 
Fredericksburg,  as  far  as  forces  engaged  and 
casualties  suffered  are  concerned. 

The  Federal  army  in  this  battle  numbered 
50,000;  casualties,  12,653.  Confederate  army, 
20,000;  casualties,  4201.    Casualties  in  Kemper's 


176  THE  STORY  OF 

brigade,  46 ;  in  7th  Virginia  regiment,  5 ;  in  Co. 
D,  1 ;  Lewis  N.  Wiley,  wounded — with  the  whack 
taken  at  the  writer's  foot,  already  described. 

January  20,  1863,  the  command  was  suddenly 
called  to  arms,  marched  up  the  Rappahannock  in 
the  direction  of  Banks'  ford,  where,  it  was  re- 
ported, the  Federal  army  was  threatening  to  cross 
the  river.  We  remained  out  one  night  in  the 
snow,  rain,  mud  and  slush,  returning  to  camp 
next  day. 


Chapter  XVI 


Leaving  Camp. 

March  Through  Spottsylvania. 

Louisa. 

Hanover,  Petersburg. 

First  North  Carolina  Campaign. 

Heavy  Snowfall  and  Battle. 

Accident  to  Anderson  Meadows  Near  Chester. 

Camp  Near  Petersburg. 

Gardner  Exchanges  Hats. 

Lieutenant  Stone  in  a  Box. 

To  Weldon,  Goldsboro  and  Kinston. 

At  Suffolk,  Virginia.  Return  via  Petersburg, 
Chester,  Richmond,  to  Taylorsville. 

John,  the  Drummer  Boy. 

Professor  Hughes,  Frank  Burrows  and  Others. 

Across  the  Pamunky,  Return  Taylorsville  and  to 
Culpeper. 


MONDAY,  February  16,  1863,  in  the  midst 
of  a  storm  of  snow  and  sleet,  Pickett's 
division  took  up  its  line  of  march  heading 
toward  Richmond.  Reports  were  rife  relating  to 
destination,  some  saying  Charleston,  others  Sav- 
annah or  Blackwater ;  all  were  on  the  list  of  prob- 
abilities, the  line  of  march  being  through  the 
counties  of  Spottsylvania,  Louisa  and  Hanover. 
At  Hanover  Junction  Sergeant  A.  L.  Fry,  who 
had  returned  from  captivity,  rejoined  us.  Within 
eight  miles  or  so  of  Richmond  the  moving  army 
went  into  camp,  resting  a  few  days  from  fatigue- 
ing  march,  then  proceeding  through  Richmond 
to  Chester  station  on  the  Richmond  and  Peters- 
burg railroad. 

The  brave  Lieutenant-Colonel  Flowerree  of  the 
7th  regiment,  having  imbibed  a  little  freely,  as 
we  passed  through  Richmond  was  placed  in  ar- 
rest, charged  with  the  breach  of  soldierly  good 
conduct.  He  was  finally  restored  to  us  on  the 
return  from  Gettysburg;  a  streak  of  luck  that 
saved  the  Colonel  from  being  in  the  great  battle. 

The  day  of  our  arrival  at  Chester  was  cool, 
the  early  night  was  clear,  the  sky  blue,  the  stars 
shining — nothing  that  betokened  any  sudden 
change  of  weather.       Awakening  next  morning 


180  THE  STORY  OF 

we  found  we  had  a  blanket  of  snow  twelve  inches 
deep — the  men  lying  in  rows  reminding-  one  of  a 
cemetery,  and  on  rising,  of  the  resurrection  day. 
We  soon  built  roaring  fires  and  went  out  and 
fought  a  great  snowball  battle.  The  explosion  of 
cartridges  in  a  cartridge  box  that  had  been  hung 
up  too  near  the  fire  came  near  costing  Anderson 
Meadows  the  loss  of  his  eyes.  Meadows  was 
quite  a  remarkable  man.  When  he  went  into  the 
army  he  could  neither  read  nor  write,  but  during 
the  service  he  became  quite  proficient  in  all,  was 
a  number  one  cook  and  a  brave  soldier,  surviving 
the  war. 

Our  next  move  took  us  to  a  point  about  a  mile 
southeast  of  Petersburg,  where  we  went  into 
camp.  The  weather  had  somewhat  moderated, 
but  snow  still  on  the  ground.  Our  Lieutenant 
Stone,  who  had  been  home  on  furlough,  returned 
to  us  here.  The  camp  was  always  more  lively 
when  he  was  present,  for  there  was  no  fun  or 
mischief  started  in  which  he  did  not  make  a  full 
hand,  and  in  the  army  anything  that  cultivates 
cheerfulness  is  of  real  value.  Many  of  the  men 
went  into  Petersburg,  some  without  leave,  among 
them  Gardner  of  Company  D,  who,  on  his  return, 
was  discovered  wearing  a  good  looking  hat  in- 
stead of  the  old,  dingy  cap  he  had  worn  away.  In- 
quiry being  made  as  to  how  he  became  possessed 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  181 

of  the  hat,  he  replied :  "I  swapped  with  a  fellow 
— but  he  wasn't  there!" 

March  25  a  shift  was  made  to  the  Weldon  and 
Petersburg  railway  station,  and  while  the  train 
to  carry  us  south  was  being"  made  ready,  some 
of  the  men  took  on  too  many  drinks,  our  jolly 
Lieutenant  Stone  being  one,  and  becoming 
boisterous,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  city  police. 
To  keep  our  Lieutenant  out  of  their  clutches,  the 
men  of  the  company  put  him  in  a  box  car,  fasten- 
ing the  doors,  but  as  he  did  not  fancy  being  a 
prisoner  in  a  box  car  he  kicked  off  one  of  the 
doors,  coming  out  with  it,  hanging  as  he  came  on 
a  nail  or  part  of  the  door,  the  leg  of  his  trousers 
catching  the  same  a  little  above  the  knee,  tearing 
one  leg  of  his  trousers. 

Next  morning  found  us  at  Weldon,  where  we 
remained  several  hours,  and  while  here  Pat 
Wood,  an  Irishman  of  the  1st  regiment,  started 
some  kind  of  a  row,  which  brought  General  Ran- 
som, the  commandant  of  the  post,  upon  the  scene, 
and  which  resulted  in  a  peremptory  order  for  the 
whole  command  to  move  on.  which  it  did. 
Crowded  into  box  cars,  without  fire,  the  weather 
cold,  the  result  cold  feet  and  general  discomfort. 
But  a  soldier  equal  to  almost  any  emergency,  es- 
pecially where  his  personal  safely  and  comfort 
are  concerned,  and  determining  to  have  fires,  cov- 


182  THE  STORY  OF 

ered  the  floor  of  each  car  with  sand.  On  this 
fires  were  made  of  longleaf  North  Carolina  pine. 
The  smoke  was  dense,  and,  having  no  escape,  set- 
tled upon  the  men,  so  that  when  Goldsboro  was 
reached  that  evening  we  were  thought  to  belong 
to  the  "colored  brigade." 

Next  day  we  proceeded  about  twenty-five 
miles  to  Kinston,  on  the  Neuse  river,  about 
thirty-five  miles  west  from  Newbern.  From 
Kinston  we  did  some  scouting  and  picket  duty 
on  the  roads  leading  to  Newbern,  the  object 
seeming  to  be  to  keep  the  enemy  at  Newbern 
close  in,  while  our  commissariat  gathered  sup- 
plies, as  General  Longstreet  with  Hood's  division 
was  likewise  doing  at  Suffolk,  Va.  The  enemy 
had  occupied  Kinston  the  preceding  winter,  and 
many  of  the  houses  had  been  destroyed;  the  in- 
habitants had  removed,  either  inside  the  Union 
military  lines,  or  to  the  interior  of  the  state.  The 
village,  in  fact,  was  entirely  deserted. 

Our  brigade  left  Kinston  April  9,  moving  by 
rail  to  Goldsboro  and  Weldon  to  a  point  twenty 
or  more  miles  south  of  Petersburg,  from  whence 
we  marched  through  the  Blackwater  region — 
the  counties  of  Southampton,  its  county  town 
Jerusalem,  Isle  of  Wight — to  the  neighborhood 
of   Suffolk    in    Nausemond    County,    where   we 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  183 

united  with  the  division  of  General  Hood,  then 
closely  investing  the  town. 

I  will  here  relate  two  incidents  occurring  on 
our  journey  to  and  from  Kinston.  While  halt- 
ing at  Goldsboro,  a  soldier  of  Company  F,  24th 
Virginia,  named  Adams,  went  to  a  pie  stand  kept 
by  an  old  lady,  took  part  of  her  pies  and  was 
walking  away  without  paying  therefor,  when  he 
was  arrested  by  a  town  policeman,  whom  the 
soldier  sought  to  resist,  and  in  the  fight  Adams 
was  killed.  The  other  incident  was,  as  we  were 
being  transported  by  the  railway  in  box  cars  be- 
tween Kinston  and  Goldsboro,  a  part  of  the  men 
were  on  top  of  the  boxes,  and  along  portions  of 
the  railway  were  overhead  bridges  for  the  ac- 
commodation of  travelers  on  the  county  roads. 
One,  Manly  Reece  of  Co.  G,  24th  Virginia,  stand- 
ing erect  on  one  of  the  box  cars,  and  not  observ- 
ing an  overhead  bridge,  was  struck,  knocked  from 
the  car  and  killed. 

At  Suffolk  lively  skirmishing  was  kept  up  for 
quite  a  while,  sometimes  approaching  a  battle. 
While  here  we  were  formed  into  line  of  battle 
to  receive  the  foe,  but  he  did  not  come.  Matters 
thus  continued  until  we  retired,  as  hereinafter 
related. 

From  a  letter  I  wrote  to  a  friend  dated  April 
25    (the  original  furnished  while  writing  these 


184  THE  STORY  OF 

pages),  it  appears  we  reached  Suffolk  the  12th 
of  the  month.  I  state  in  the  letter :  "This  is  the 
13th  day  that  we  have  been  in  close  proximity 
to  the  enemy."  While  at  Suffolk  three  of  my 
Company  D — Hugh  J.  Wilburn,  James  H.  Gard- 
ner and  John  S.  W.  French,  deserted  to  the 
enemy. 

Having  accomplished  the  object  of  the  ex- 
pedition, the  troops  quietly  withdrew  from  the 
front  a  little  after  dark  on  the  evening  of  Mon- 
day, May  4.  On  reaching  South  Quay,  we  heard 
of  the  great  Confederate  victory  at  Chancellors- 
ville.  Pushing  ahead  through  Petersburg  to 
Chester  Station,  we  again  halted  there  for  a  few 
days  for  rest  and  recuperation.  While  here  in 
camp,  Isaac  Hare  and  Travis  Burton  of  Com- 
pany D  took  "French  furlough"  and  joined 
themselves  to  a  portion  of  the  Confederate  army 
serving  in  southwestern  Virginia.  The  cause  of 
this  action  was  never  explained. 

Baldwin  L.  Hoge,  in  handling  a  knife,  acci- 
dentally wounded  himself  in  the  knee,  was  sent 
to  the  hospital,  and  was  not  able  for  field  service 
for  several  months. 

It  was  here  also  that  the  men  of  the  divisions 
of  Pickett  and  Hood  heard  with  sorrow  of  the 
death  of  General  Stonewall  Jackson,  an  irrepara- 
ble loss;  for  his  place  could  not  well  be  filled,  and 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  185 

it  seemed  that  with  his  loss  our  cause  began  to 
wane.  The  humblest  private  in  all  the  armies 
of  the  South  deeply  mourned  the  loss  of  this 
Christian  man  and  able  general. 

Hood's  Texans  were  encamped  across  the  rail- 
road from  us,  amusing  themselves  by  putting 
musket  caps  on  the  rails  just  in  advance  of  the 
approach  of  a  passenger  train,  then  taking  their 
stand  close  beside  the  track,  bushes  or  brush  in 
hand.  On  the  caps  exploding,  the  passengers 
would  put  their  heads  out  of  the  windows  to  as- 
certain the  cause  of  the  popping,  and  found  on 
drawing  their  heads  back  into  the  coach  that  they 
were  hatless — a  slick  trick  of  the  soldiers  to  get 
for  themselves  a  supply  of  hats. 

Resuming  the  line  of  march  May  12,  we  passed 
through  Richmond  to  Taylorsville  in  Hanover 
County,  not  far  from  the  Junction,  the  crossing 
of  the  Virginia  Central  over  the  Richmond, 
Fredericksburg  and  Potomac  railroad. 

A  series  of  religious  meetings  were  here  held 
and  many  professed  faith  in  Christ,  the  writer 
among  the  number.  From  a  letter  to  a  friend  at 
home,  dated  at  Taylorsville,  May  26,  I  see  that  I 
stated :  "We  are  now  resting  from  our  hard 
marches,  which,  however,  may  be  resumed  at  any 
time.  There  is  a  religious  meeting  going  on  here 
now.    Rev.  Dr.  Pryor  of  Petersburg  is  preaching 


186  THE  STORY  OF 

for  us.  I  think  he  will  be  able  to  do  great  good. 
Nearly  every  man  in  the  brigade  seems  to  take  an 
interest  in  the  meetings.  I  hope  that  much  good 
may  be  done.  Our  soldiers  are  loyal  to  their 
country,  and  Oh!  how  grand  if  they  would  only 
be  loyal  to  God." 

In  the  interim  of  our  arrival  at  Taylorsville 
and  leaving  there,  the  division  took  a  journey 
across  the  Pamunkey  into  King  and  Queen 
County,  returning  to  Taylorsville.  A  few  days 
thereafter  we  had  division  review,  being  drawn  up 
in  line  to  receive  General  Pickett,  to  whom,  as  he 
passed  by,  we  were  to  lower  the  flags  and  present 
arms,  the  drums  to  beat.  John  Whitlock  was  the 
drummer  boy  for  our  regiment,  a  little  waif 
picked  up  in  Richmond  by  some  one  of  our  regi- 
mental band  or  drum  corps,  of  which  Professor 
Hughes  was  leader,  with  Frank  Burrows  and 
others  members  of  the  band.  John  Whitlock  was 
a  mischievous  boy,  who,  to  keep  from  beating 
the  drum,  would  lose  or  throw  away  the  sticks; 
so  when  on  this  review  he  was  ordered  by  the 
Colonel  to  beat  the  drum,  there  was  no  response, 
on  account  of  which,  on  return  to  camp,  I  was 
ordered  to  place  on  John  a  drum  shirt,  which 
consisted  of  taking  the  heads  out  of  the  drum 
and  slipping  the  barrel  down  over  his  arms.  John 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  187 

cried  and  begged,  and  I  let  him    go   upon    his 
promise  to  do  better  in  the  future. 

At  Taylorsville  Pickett's  division,  fully 
equipped,  was  made  ready  for  the  most  active 
field  service.  The  ranks  were  recuperated  by 
those  who  had  been  sick,  those  recovered  from 
wounds,  as  well  as  by  recruits,  and  all  vacancies 
in  the  officers  of  the  line  and  staff,  among  them 
Captain  John  H.  Parr,  who  had  been  appointed 
Adjutant  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the 
death  of  Adjutant  Starke,  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Frazier's  Farm.  Company  D  had  lost  up  to  this 
time,  killed  in  battle,  died  of  wounds,  disease, 
transfers  to  other  commands,  detached  service 
and  desertion,  nearly  70  men;  had  received  no 
recruits  except  those  received  in  August,  1861, 
and  some  were  sick  and  in  hospital. 

It  is  probable  we  left  Taylorsville  for  Culpeper 
June  3,  as  I  see  from  a  letter  written  by  me  on 
the  nth  of  June  from  a  point  about  eight  miles 
from  Culpeper  court  house,  that  I  say :  "We  have 
been  marching  for  the  last  eight  days,  have  now 
halted  eight  miles  from  Culpeper  court  house.  Our 
cavalry  had  a  severe  fight  with  the  enemy  day 
before  yesterday.  I  think  we  are  to  have  a  hard 
summers  campaign.  It  is  reported  that  the 
Yankees  have  moved  back  to  Manassas  and  Bull 
Run.    There  has  been  some  fighting  at  Fredericks- 


188  THE  STORY  OF 

burg,  where  some  of  the  enemy  have  crossed  and 
are  throwing  up  fortifications."  / 

It  was  our  custom  to  call  the  enemy  Yankees ; 
some  said  "D — d  Yankees,"  and  they  likewise 
called  us  "D — d  rebels,"  neither  side  meaning 
any  offense,  nor  the  expression  carrying  any  per- 
sonal ill  will.  It  is  told  by  General  Sherman  in 
his  Atlanta,  or  some  other  campaign,  that  he 
heard  an  old  negro  praying,  saying  among  other 
things,  "Oh!  Lord,  bless  the  d — d  Yankees."  We 
used  the  word  Yankee,  prior  to  the  war,  applying 
it  to  the  New  England  people,  the  descendants 
of  the  Puritans,  the  people  whose  ancestors 
landed  on  Plymouth  Rock,  of  whom  General  Early 
is  credited  with  saying,  "If  that  rock  had  landed 
on  them,  we  would  never  have  had  the  d — d  h — 1 
fired  war."  The  word  Yankee  is  of  uncertain 
derivation,,  though  said  to  be  an  Indian  corrup- 
tion of  the  French  word,  Anglais,  meaning  Eng- 
lish. The  Union  soldiers  usually  called  us 
"Johnnies,"  or  "Johnny  Rebs." 

The  army  had  been  organized  with  three 
corps — first,  Longstreet's ;  second,  Ewell's,  and 
third,  A.  P.  Hill's.  While  at  Culpeper,  where 
the  Confederate  army  was  being  mobilized,  addi- 
tional numbers  were  being  received  into  the  ranks. 
The  passionate  ardor  of  our  people  for  their  coun- 
try's cause  had  brought  to  the  army  nearly  every 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  189 

man  fit  for  the  service.  It  was  perhaps  the  larg- 
est efficient  number  of  men,  and  composed  of 
the  best  fighting  material  that  General  Lee  ever 
led  to  battle.  Most  of  the  men  were  well  inured 
to  the  service,  and  well  prepared  to  undergo  the 
greatest  privations  and  hardships;  and  by  this 
time  most  of  the  cowards  and  skulkers  had  either 
gotten  out  of  the  army  or  had  never  gotten  in, 
or  gone  over  to  the  enemy.  In  these  men  Gen- 
eral Lee  imposed  the  utmost  confidence,  and  this 
confidence  was  reciprocated.  It  is  stated  upon 
authority  that  as  the  army  went  forward  on  its 
march  to  Pennsylvania,  while  passing  through 
the  valley  of  Virginia  not  far  from  Berryville, 
near  which  General  Lee  had  stopped  and  dined 
with  a  friend,  that  in  the  act  of  mounting  his 
horse  to  depart,  his  host  remarked :  "I  have 
never  had  any  confidence  in  the  success  of  our 
cause  till  now  I  see  our  army  marching  north." 
Promptly  came  General  Lee's  only  reply : 
"Doctor,  there  marches  the  finest  body  of  men 
that  ever  tramped  the  earth." 

The  usual  order  to  cook  rations  and  prepare 
to  move  at  a  moment's  notice  was  given,  and 
everything  was  put  in  readiness ;  the  camp  was  all 
bustle  and  confusion. 


Chapter  XVII 


Pennsylvania  Campaign  of  July,  1863. 

Culpeper  and  Snicker's  Gap. 

Fording  the  Potomac. 

Shooting  a  Deserter. 

Pennsylvania  Invaded. 

Ch  amber  sburg. 

My  Dream. 

Willoughby  Run. 

Roll  Call.  ' 


1AM  NOW  about  to  record  the  things  I  saw 
in  connection  with  the  greatest  endeavor  of 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  during"  the 
Civil  War,  which  led  up  to  the  Battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, a  campaign  which  startled  the  North, 
alarmed  the  capital  at  Washington,  and  inspired 
General  Lee's  army  with  new  heroism  and 
courage.  We  were  going  to  Pennsylvania  in  part 
to  procure  that  for  which  Jacob's  sons  went  down 
into  Egypt. 

Monday,  June  15,  1863,  the  head  of  the  column 
moved  out,  directed  toward  the  Blue  Ridge  and 
Snicker's  Gap,  through  which  we  passed  June  20, 
crossing  the  Shenandoah  River  at  Castleman's 
ferry,  where  we  were  detained  three  or  four  days, 
and  again  at  Berryville,  for  the  purpose  of  keep- 
ing in  supporting  distance  of  our  cavalry  operat- 
ing against  that  of  the  enemy  east  of  the  Ridge. 
The  march  from  Culpeper  was  conducted  left  in 
front,  the  enemy  being  on  our  right.  The  Con- 
federate cavalry  had  for  several  days  been  en- 
gaged with  that  of  the  enemy  in  the  vicinity  of 
Aldie  and  Upperville.  The  army  was  followed 
by  a  large  drove  of  beef  cattle,  James  B.  Croy, 
of  Company  D,  being  detailed  as  one  of  the  driv- 
ers, thereby  escaping  the  storm  at  Gettysburg. 


194  THE  STORY  OF 

The  way  for  the  march  of  the  army  through 
the  Virginia  valley  had  been  cleared  by  Ewell's 
corps,  which  had  defeated  and  driven  away  the 
Federal  troops  at  Winchester  and  Martinsburg; 
while  the  Confederate  cavalry  had  cut  and  de- 
stroyed a  portion  of  the  Baltimore  &  Ohio  rail- 
road west  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  Jenkins'  Con- 
federate cavalry  brigade  had  crossed  the  Potomac, 
entering  Maryland  and  Pennsylvania.  The 
weather  was  hot  and  the  march  continued  through 
Martinsburg  by  Falling  Waters,  crossing  the 
Potomac  by  wading  to  Williamsport,  Md.,  going 
into  camp  a  short  distance  out  of  the  town.  Here 
it  was  late  in  the  evening  that  a  deserter  from 
the  1 8th  Virginia  regiment  was  executed  by 
shooting. 

The  morale  of  the  army  was  superb,  officers 
and  men  alike  inspired  with  confidence  in  the 
ability  of  the  army  to  beat  its  old  antagonist  any- 
where he  chose  to  meet  us.  We  were  moving 
into  the  enemy's  country  in  fine  spirit — no  strag- 
gling, no  desertion/*  no  destruction  of  private 
property,  no  outrages  committed  upon  non-com- 
batants, the  orders  of  the  commanding  general 
on  this  subject  being  strictly  observed.  Among 
the  men  were  expressions  of  disapproval  of  the 
invasion  of  the  North.  We  had  uniformly  in- 
sisted upon  defensive  warfare  on  our  own  soil; 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  195 

in  other  words,  we  steadfastly  contended  against 
the  claim  of  the  enemy  to  invade  our  own  land, 
and  logically  we  should  be  bound  by  the  same 
reasoning.  However,  in  the;  last  analysis  every 
man  in  the  army  of  Northern  Virginia  was  loyal 
to  his  commander-in-chief,  wherever  he  should 
lead.  Here,  indeed,  was  a  spectacle:  An  army 
of  more  than  sixty  thousand  freemen,  every  man 
a  soldier  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  brave, 
resolute,  fearless,  the  heroes  and  victors  of  many 
fields,  marching  unobstructed  and  thus  far  un- 
opposed through  an  enemy's  country,  whose  peo- 
ple had  scarcely  known  that  war  was  in  progress  ; 
living  in  quiet  and  plenty.  The  march  was  con- 
tinued with  steady  tread  to  Hagerstown,  where 
a  halt  was  made  to  allow  Hill's  corps,  which  had 
crossed  the  river  below,  to  pass.  Again  march- 
ing, the  Cumberland  Valley  in  Pennsylvania  was 
entered,  a  magnificent' land,  the  counterpart  of 
the  lovely  valley  of  Virginia,  the  sight  bringing 
homesickness  to  the  heart  of  not  a  few  Virginia 
boys.  Nothing  was  seen  indicating  that  these 
people  knew  that  a  terrible  war  had  been  raging 
for  two  years,  only  a  few  miles  away;  certain 
it  is  they  had  felt  little  of  its  effect,  either  upon 
their  population  or  resources.  At  Greencastle  was 
noted  among  the  people  defiance  and  vindictive 
mien;  while  not  speaking  out,  their  looks  indi- 


196  THE  STORY  OF 

cated  that  deep  down  in  their  bosoms  was  rancor 
and  the  wish  that  all  the  rebel  hosts  were  dead  and 
corralled  by  the  devil. 

Saturday,  June  27,  Chambersburg,  the  cap- 
ital— county  town — of  Franklin  County,  was  en- 
tered by  our  column;  passing  to  the  outskirts  on 
the  north,  or  northwest  side  thereof,  halting  in 
the  street  in  front  of  a  beautiful  residence,  said 
to  be  that  of  Colonel  McClure.  Some  ladies  ap- 
peared and  volunteered  to  deliver  a  sharp,  spicy 
address,  which  was  responded  to  by  the  band  of 
our  regiment,  with  "Dixie."  The  boys  'sang 
"Dixie"  and  "Bonnie  Blue  Flag,"  laughed  and 
cheered  lustily,  then  marched  on  a  few  miles  on 
the  York  road  and  went  into  camp. 

Pickett's  division  was  left  at  Chambersburg  to 
guard  the  trains  until  General  Imboden's  com- 
mand could  close  up  and  relieve  it,  which  it  did  on 
the  evening  of  July  1.  While  waiting  to  be  re- 
lieved, the  men  of  Pickett's  division  were  em- 
ployed in  tearing  up  the  track  of  the  Cumberland 
Valley  railroad,  which  was  thoroughly  done  for 
a  mile  or  more,  piling  and  firing  the  ties,  heating 
the  rails  and  bending  them  around  trees. 

During  the  march  from  the  Potomac  to 
Chambersburg,  I  one  night  had  a  dream  in  which 
I  saw  my  left  shoulder  mangled  by  a  cannon  shot 
and  I  lying  on  the  battlefield  bleeding,   dying. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  197 

This  dream,  not  like  many  not  recollected,  deeply 
impressed  itself  upon  my  mind,  and  I  found  my- 
self unable  to  throw  it  off.  When  three  days 
later  in  the  battle  at  Gettysburg  I  was  struck  by 
an  exploding  shell  on  my  left  side,  the  dream 
instantly  came  up,  and  I  said,  here  now  is  its  ful- 
fillment. Other  soldiers,  like  myself,  probably 
during  and  after  the  war  dreamed  of  being  in 
battle,  hearing  distinctly  the  booming  of  cannon, 
the  noise  of  bursting  shell  and  the  rattle  of 
musketry. 

About  2  o'clock  on  Thursday  morning,  July  2, 
being  aroused  by  the  sound  of  the  long  roll,  we 
were  quickly  in  line,  the  column  moving  on  the 
road  leading  to  Gettysburg.  The  march  was 
rapid,  and  unceasing,  until  we  reached  the  vicin- 
ity of  the  coming  conflict  at  Gettysburg,  a  distance 
of  twenty-five  miles  or  more  over  a  dusty  road, 
beneath  a  burning  July  sun,  passing  on  the  way 
the  smoldering  ruins  of  Thad  Stevens'  iron  fur- 
nace, which  had  been  fired  by  General  J.  A.  Early 
a  few  days  before.  The  other  divisions  of  our 
corps  (Longstreet's)  had  preceded  us  some 
twenty-four  hours,  arriving  in  time  to  make  the 
principal  battle  of  the  second  day. 

On  the  march  over  South  Mountain,  reaching 
the  east  side,  passing  through  the  small  hamlets 
of  Cashtown  and  Seven  Stars,  plainly  could  be 


198  THE  STORY  OF 

heard  the  roar  of  Longstreet's  battle  of  that  eve- 
ning. Near  the  middle  of  the  afternoon  the  divi- 
sion halted  at  Willoughby  Run,  two  miles  from 
Gettysburg;  the  men  soon  scattered,  some  getting 
water,  some  eating  and  some  in  conversation.  As 
the  shades  of  night  began  to  gather  on  this  bright 
eve,  being  fatigued  with  the  day's  march,  all  re- 
tired early  to  rest,  little  dreaming  that  upon  such 
lovely  eve,  such  awful  morn  should  rise.  Brave, 
happy  souls,  little  do  you  anticipate  the  horrors 
of  the  next  twenty-four  hours!  All  was  quiet 
during  the  night  until  reveille,  which  was  sounded 
before  day,  when  we  fell  into  ranks  for  roll  call, 
the  last  for  so  many  gallant  men,  who  on  this 
eventful  day  were  to  pour  out  their  life's  blood 
for  freedom  and  the  right,  as  God  gave  them  to 
see  the  right,  and  to  go  to  that  bourne  from 
whence  no  traveler  returns. 


Chapter  XVIII 


Finishing  Roll  Call. 
March  to  the  Field. 
Inspection  of  Arms. 
Fearful  Artillery  Duel. 
The  Charge. 
Killed  and  Wounded. 
Army  Retires. 
Crosses  the  Potomac. 


PROCEEDING  with  the  roll  call  the  officers 
and  men  of  Company  D  were:  Captain 
R.  H.  Bane,  Lieutenants  E.  M.  Stone,  John 
W.  Mullins  and  E.  R.  Walker ;  non-commissioned, 
Sergeants  T.  S.  Taylor,  W.  H.  H.  Snidow,  the 
writer;  Corporals  A.  J.  Thompson,  Daniel  Bish, 
George  C.  Mullins,  J.  B.  Young;  Privates  Akers, 
Barrett,  Crawford.  Darr,  Fortner  (J.  H.),  Fort- 
ner  (W.  C),  Hight,  Hurt  (J.  J.),  Jones,  Lewy 
(Jo),  Meadows  (Anderson),  Meadows  (John), 
Minnich,  Munsey,  Peters.  Sarver  (D.  L.),  Sub- 
lett,  Stafford.  Wilburn  (G.  L.)  and  Wilburn 
(W.  I.).  Total,  31,  being  all  of  Company  D 
present  that  I  recall.  I  believe  this  to  be  correct. 
James  B.  Croy  had  been  detailed  to  drive  beef 
cattle;  Alexander  Bolton  belonged  to  the  ambu- 
lance corps,  and  Charles  A.  Hale  was  company 
cook.  During  the  terrific  artillery  duel,  whicu 
followed.  Captain  Bane  and  Lieutenant  Mullins 
were  prostrated  by  heat,  from  which  they  did  not 
recover  for  some  days.  Lieutenant  Stone  had 
been  assigned  to  the  command  of  Company  E 
of  the  regiment,  which  had  no  commissioned  of- 
ficer present.  Lieutenant  Walker  was  left  in 
command  of  our  company,  and  just  as  the  artil- 
lery duel  was  about  closing,  and  but  a  few  min- 


202  THE  STORY  OF 

utes  before  the  general  advance  began,  I  was 
knocked  out  of  ranks  by  a  bursting  shell,  of  which 
more  later.  The  company  therefore  went  into  the 
charge  with  but  28  men,  counting  Lieutenant 
Stone  leading  Company  E,  and  Young,  color 
guard.  The  three  brigades  of  Pickett's  division 
present  were  Garnett's,  Kemper's  and  Armistead's, 
composed  of  fifteen  Virginia  regiments,  number- 
ing in  the  aggregate  that  morning  about  4,700 
men,  which  included  the  General's  staff,  and  regi- 
mental officers,  of  which  there  was  the  full  com- 
plement; Colonel  W.  Tazwell  Patton,  command- 
ing the  7th  Virginia  regiment,  being  the  only 
field  officer  of  the  regiment  then  present.  The 
division,  from  the  major-general  down,  was  com- 
posed of  Virginians,  many  of  them  mere  boys, 
and  the  probability  is  that  the  average  age  of 
the  men  in  the  ranks,  including  the  line  officers, 
did  not  exceed  19  years.  I  had  just  passed  my 
eighteenth  birthday.  In  the  division  were  com- 
panies from  the  counties  of  Bedford,  Campbell. 
Franklin,  Patrick,  Henry,  Floyd.  Montgomery, 
Pulaski  Giles,  Craig,  Mercer,  Madison,  Orange, 
Culpeper,  Rappahannock,  Greene,  Albemarle,  Car- 
roll, Appomattox.  Pittsylvania.  Prince  Edward. 
Norfolk,  Nansemond,  and  others;  and  from  the 
cities  of  Richmond,  Lynchburg,  Norfolk  and 
Portsmouth — volunteers  all,  many  of  them  school 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  203 

boys  who  had  entered  the  service  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  war,  and  becoming  fully  inured  to 
the  service. 

Our  brigade,  commanded  by  the  gallant  and 
impetuous  General  James  L.  Kemper,  was  in  front 
during  the  morning's  march,  and  as  we  formed 
into  battle  line  held  the  right,  Garnett's  brigade 
on  the  left,  Armistead's  a  little  to  the  left  and 
rear.  The  line  was  formed  as  early  as  7  o'clock 
A.  M.  Inspection  of  arms  was  had  and  every- 
thing put  in  readiness  for  the  engagement  then 
imminent.  We  moved  out  of  a  skirt  of  woods, 
went  forward  a  short  distance  into  a  field,  on 
which  was  standing  a  crop  of  rye  not  yet  har- 
vested. Our  position  was  now  on  Seminary 
Ridge,  four  hundred  yards  or  so  back  from  the 
top,  under  the  crest;  the  line  formed  somewhat 
obliquely  to  the  Emmettsburg  road  in  front  of 
us,  with  the  Confederate  batteries  on  the  crest 
four  hundred  yards  or  more  in  front  of  us. 
Pickett's  division  was  to  lead  the  assault,  the 
wings  supported  on  the  right  by  Wilcox's  brigade, 
Heth's  division  under  General  Pettigrew,  sup- 
ported by  the  brigades  of  Scales  and  Lane,  under 
General  Trimble,  for  the  purpose  of  supporting 
the  left:  all  obstructions  cleared  away  from  the 
immediate  front. 

In  the  formation  thus  made,  arms  were  stacked 


204  THE  STORY  OF 

and  we,  with  the  understanding  that  when  two 
signal  guns  were  fired,  to  take  arms  and  lie  flat 
on  the  ground.  All  along  the  Confederate  front 
was  massed  our  artillery,  perhaps  75  or  more 
guns.  The  Federal  artillery,  220  guns,  along 
their  whole  front.  The  lines  of  the  two  armies, 
now  held  as  by  a  leash,  were  1,430  yards  from 
each  other,  the  distance  between  the  opposing 
batteries  an  average  of  a  little  more  than  1,000 
yards.  The  Federal  guns  exceeded  ours  in  num- 
ber and  quality  of  metal. 

Now  the  suspense  was  something  awful.  The 
men  were  grave  and  thoughtful,  but  showed  no 
signs  of  fear.  The  multitude  awaiting  judgment 
could  not  be  more  seriously  impressed  with  what 
was  now  about  to  follow.  However,  a  soldier  in 
the  field  rarely  thought  his  time  to  die  had  exactly 
arrived — that  is,  it  would  be  the  other  fellow's 
time — and  well  it  was  so.  Occasionally  a  man 
was  met  who  had  made  up  his  mind  that  the  next 
battle  would  be  his  last.  Men  have  been  known 
to  have  such  presentiment  and  sure  enough  be 
killed  in  the  next  engagement.  Such  was  true 
of  our  gallant  Colonel  Patton,  who  yielded  up  his 
promising  young  life  in  this  battle. 

The  issue  of  the  campaign  and  of  the  Civil  War 
itself,  as  history  shows,  was  now  trembling  in 
the  balance.     Victory  or  defeat  to  either  side 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  205 

would  be  in  effect  a  settlement  of  the  issues  in- 
volved; this  the  officers  and  men  seemed  clearly 
to  realize.  Under  such  conditions  all  were  im- 
patient of  the  restraint.  To  the  brave  soldier 
going  into  battle,  knowing  he  must  go,  the  mo- 
ments seem  to  lengthen.  This  feeling  is  not  born 
of  his  love  for  fighting,  but  it  is  rather  the  nerv- 
ous anxiety  to  determine  the  momentous  issue 
as  quickly  as  possible,  without  stopping  to  count 
the  cost,  realizing  if  it  must  be  done,  "it  were 
well  it  were  done  quickly."  Over-confidence  per- 
vaded the  Confederate  army,  from  the  command- 
ing general  down  to  the  shakiest  private  in  the 
ranks.  Too  much  over-confidence  was  the  bane 
of  our  battle.  For  more  than  six  long  hours  the 
men  were  waiting,  listening  for  the  sound  of  the 
signal  guns.  The  stillness  was  at  last  broken : 
the  shot  was  fired :  down,  according  to  program, 
went  the  men  on  their  faces. 

Now  began  the  most  terrible  artillery  duel  that 
beyond  question  ever  took  place  on  the  American 
continent,  or,  the  writer  believes,  anywhere  else. 
Never  had  a  storm  so  dreadful  burst  upon  mortal 
man.  The  atmosphere  was  rent  and  broken  by 
the  rush  and  crash  of  projectiles — solid  shot, 
shrieking,  bursting  shells.  The  sun  but  a  few 
minutes  before  so  brilliant  was  now  darkened. 
Through  this  smoky  darkness  came  the  missiles 


206  THE  STORY  OF 

of  death,  plowing  great  furrows  of  destruction 
among  our  men,  whole  columns  going  down  like 
grass  before  the  scythe.  The  scene  of  carnage 
and  death  beggars  description.  Not  for  the 
world  would  the  writer  look  upon  such  a  sight 
again.  In  any  direction  might  be  seen  guns, 
swords,  haversacks,  heads,  limbs,  flesh  and  bones 
in  confusion  or  dangling  in  the  air  or  bounding 
on  the  earth.  The  ground  shook  as  if  in  the 
throes  of  an  earthquake.  The  teamsters,  two  or 
more  miles  away,  declared  that  the  sash  in  the 
windows  of  buildings  where  they  were  shook  and 
chattered  as  if  shaken  by  a  violent  wind.  Over 
us,  in  front,  behind,  in  our  midst,  through  our 
ranks  and  everywhere,  came  death-dealing  mis- 
siles. I  am  reminded  by  this  awful  scene,  pro- 
duced by  this  fearful  artillery  fire,  of  the  remark 
made  by  Colonel  Stephen  D.  Lee,  commanding 
Confederate  artillery  at  Sharpsburg,  to  one  of  his 
artillery  officers  after  the  battle:  "Sharpsburg 
was  artillery  hell."  Be  this  as  it  may,  the  artil- 
lery fire  at  Sharpsburg  was  not  comparable  to 
that  of  the  third  day  at  Gettysburg.  During  all 
this  nearly  two  hours  of  horror  the  men  remained 
steadfast  at  their  posts — excepting  those  who  had 
not  been  knocked  out  of  place  by  shell  and  shot. 

It  must  not  be  supposed  that  men  were  not 
alarmed,    for    doubtless    many    a    poor    fellow 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  207 

thought  his  time  had  come — and  pray?  Yes, 
great  big,  stout-hearted  men  prayed,  loudly,  too, 
and  they  were  in  earnest,  for  if  men  ever  had  need 
of  the  care  and  protection  of  our  Heavenly 
Father,  it  was  now. 

The  position  was  a  trying  one,  indeed;  much 
more  so  than  had  we  been  engaged  in  close  com- 
bat, and  quite  as  perilous,  for  then  we  should  not 
have  felt  so  much  the  terrible  strain,  could  we 
have  rendered  blow  for  blow;  but  it  was  as  if 
we  were  placed  where  we  were  for  target  practice 
for  the  Union  batteries.  To  the  left  of  my  posi- 
tion, and  not  thirty  feet  away,  eight  men  were 
killed  or  wounded  by  one  shot,  while  still  nearer 
to  me  a  solid  shot  trounced  a  man,  lifting  him 
three  feet  from  the  earth,  killing  him  but  not 
striking  him.  Many  of  the  shots  causing  much 
damage  were  from  enfilading  fire  from  a  Union 
battery  at  the  Cemetery. 

I  feel  confident  in  stating  that  not  less  than  300 
of  Pickett's  men  were  killed  or  injured  by  artil- 
lery fire. 

Near  2  150  P.  M.,  as  the  artillery  fire  had  prac- 
tically ceased,  there  came  the  order,  "Fall  in !" 
and  brave  General  Pickett,  coming  close  by  where 
I  lay  wounded,  called  out:  "Up,  men,  and  to 
your  posts!  Don't  forget  today  that  you  are 
from  old  Virginia!"     The  effect  of  this  word 


208  THE  STORY  OF 

upon  the  men  was  electrical.  The  regiments  were 
quickly  in  line,  closing  to  the  left  over  the  dead 
and  wounded1 — the  ranks  now  reduced  by  the 
losses  occasioned  by  the  shelling  to  about  4,400 
men  of  the  division,  and  I  am  satisfied  that  Kem- 
per's brigade,  the  smallest  of  the  division,  did  not 
then  number  over  1,250.  The  advance  now  be- 
gan, the  men  calling  out  to  the  wounded  and 
others :  "Goodbye,  boys !  Goodbye !"  Unable 
to  move,  I  could  not  accompany  this  advance — 
did  not  see,  hear,  observe  or  know  what  there- 
after happened  only  from  the  statement  of  others. 
I  will  not  attempt  to  state,  but  for  a  reasonable 
and  fair  report  thereof  will  give  the  published 
statement  of  an  intelligent  Union  soldier  (a  Mas- 
sachusets  man)  who  observed  the  movement  of 
Pickett's  division,  which  is  as  follows : 

"But  what  is  Gettysburg,  either  in  its 
first  day's  Federal  defeat,  or  its  second  day's 
terrible  slaughter  around  Little  Round  Top, 
without  the  third  day's  immortal  charge  by 
Pickett  and  his  brave  Virginians !  *  *  * 
Then  Pickett  and  his  brave  legions  stood 
up  and  formed  for  the  death  struggle :  three 
remnants  of  brigades,  consisting  of  Gar- 
nett's— the  8th,  18th,  19th,  28th  and  56th 
Virginia;  Armistead's  brigade^-the  9th, 
14th,   38th,   53d,   57th   Virginia;   Kemper's 


Corporal  Jesse  B.  Young 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  209 

brigade — ist,  3d,  7th,  nth,  24th  Virginia. 
Their  tattered  flags  bore  the  scars  of  a  score 
of  battles,  and  from  their  ranks  the  merci- 
less bullet  had  already  taken  two-thirds 
their  number.  In  compact  ranks :  their  front 
scarcely  covering  two  of  Hancock's  brigades, 
with  flags  waiving  as  if  for  a  gala  day. 
*  *  *  It  was  nearly  a  mile  to  the  Union 
lines,  and  as  they  advanced  over  the  open 
plain  the  Federal  artillery  opened  again, 
plowing  great  lanes  through  their  solid 
ranks,  but  they  closed  up  to  guide  center, 
as  if  upon  dress  parade.  When  half  way 
over,  Pickett  halted  his  division  amidst  a 
terrible  fire  of  shot  and  shell,  and  changed 
his  direction  by  an  oblique  movement, 
coolly  and  beautifully  made.  *  *  *  To 
those  who  have  ever  faced  artillery  fire  it 
is  marvellous  and  unexplainable  how  human 
beings  could  have  advanced  under  the  ter- 
rific fire  of  a  hundred  cannon,  every  inch 
of  air  being  laden  with  the  missiles  of  death  ; 
but  in  splendid  formation  they  still  came 
bravely  on  till  within  range  of  the  musketry ; 
then  the  blue  line  of  Hancock's  corps  arose 
and  poured  into  their  ranks  a  murderous 
fire.    With  a  wild  yell  the  rebels  pushed  on, 


210  THE  STORY  OF 

unfalteringly,  crossed  the  Federal  lines  and 
laid  hands  upon  eleven  cannon. 

"Men  fired  into  each  other's  faces;  there 
were  bayonet  thrusts,  cutting  with  sabres, 
hand-to-hand  contests,  oaths,  curses,  yells 
and  hurrahs.  The  Second  corps  fell  back 
behind  the  guns  to  allow  the  use  of  grape 
and  double  cannister,  and  as  it  tore  through 
the  rebel  ranks  at  only  a  few  paces  distant, 
the  dead  and  wounded  were  piled  in  ghastly 
heaps;  still  on  they  came  up  to  the  very 
muzzles  of  their  guns;  they  were  blown 
away  from  the  cannon's  mouth,  but  yet  they 
did  not  waiver.  Pickett  had  taken  the  key 
to  the  position,  and  the  glad  shout  of  victory 
was  heard,  as,  the  very  impersonation  of  a 
soldier,  he  still  forced  his  troops  to  the  crest 
of  Cemetery  Ridge.  Kemper  and  Armistead 
broke  through  Hancock's  line,  scaled  the 
hill  and  planted  their  flags  on  its  crest. 
Just  before  Armistead  was  shot,  he  placed 
his  flag  upon  a  captured  cannon  and  cried : 
'Give  them  the  cold  steel,  boys !'  But  valor 
could  do  no  more,  the  handful  of  braves 
had  won  immortality,  but  could  not  conquer 
an  army.  *  *  *  Pickett,  seeing  his 
supports  gone,  his  Generals  Kemper,  Armis- 
tead and  Garnett  killed  or  wounded,  every 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  211 

field  officer  of  three  brigades  gone,  three- 
fourths  of  his  men  killed  or  captured,  him- 
self untouched,  but  broken-hearted,  gave  the 
order  for  retreat,  but,  band  of  heroes  as  they 
were,   they  fled   not;  but  amidst  that   still 
continuous,   terrible   fire,   they  slowly,   sul- 
lenly, recrossed  the  plain — all  that  was  left 
of  them,  but  few  of  five  thousand." 
Pickett's  division  was  the  only  organized  body 
of  Confederates  that  crossed  the  stone  fence.     In 
a  letter  of  General  Kemper  to  me  he  gives  a  short 
description,    and   but   brief,    of    this    wonderful 
charge,  in  which  he  states :     "I  think  General 
Garnett  and   myself  were  the  only   officers   of 
Pickett's    division    who    went    into    the    battle 
mounted  and  remained  mounted  until  shot  down. 
My  recollection  is  that  I  fell  just  about  the  time 
our  men  began  to  give  back.    I  was  close  enough 
to  the  enemy  to  distinguish  features  and  expres- 
sions of  faces,  and  thought  I  observed  and  could 
identify  the  individual  who  shot  me.     Quickly 
afterwards  a  Federal  officer,  with  several  of  his 
men,   took  possession  of  me,   placing  me  on   a 
blanket,  started  to  carry  me,  as  he  said,  to  a  Fed- 
eral surgeon,  when  some  of  our  men,  firing  over 
my  body,  recaptured  me  and  carried  me  to  our 
rear. 

"As  to  how  the  three  brigades  of  our  division 


212  THE  STORY  OF 

advanced  in  line  of  battle  when  the  artillery 
ceased  firing;  as  to  how  the  gaps  were  closed  up 
as  men  fell  and  the  general  alignment  was  well 
preserved;  as  to  the  cul-de-sac  of  death,  our  un- 
supported, or  very  badly  supported  division  was 
hurled  into;  as  to  the  last  unavailing  grapple  with 
the  overwhelming  numbers  of  the  enemy:  all 
these  are  matters  about  which  you  doubtless  know 
as  much  as  I  do." 

As  already  stated,  it  was  1,430  yards  from  our 
position  to  that  occupied  by  the  Union  infantry; 
it  was  practically  open  field.  It  was  the  longest 
charge  in  open  ground  under  heavy  fire  that  our 
troops  were  ever  required  to  make.  Indeed,  this 
was  the  most  remarkable  charge  made  in  the 
annals  of  warfare. 

The  Union  army,  under  General  Burnside,  at 
the  Battle  of  Fredericksburg  against  Marye's  Hill, 
made  as  many  as  fourteen  distinct  charges  as 
brave  and  gallant  as  were  ever  made  by  any  sol- 
diers, at  some  points  leaving  their  dead  within  a 
few  yards  of  the  Confederate  lines,  but  each  time 
repulsed  with  heavy  loss,  but  the  fact  must  not 
be  overlooked  that  these  charging  columns  had 
fairly  goodj  cover  to  within  four  hundred  yards 
of  the  Confederate  line. 

Had  the  Confederate  assaulting  column  had  a 
shorter  run  with  protected  cover,  it  is  almost  cer- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  213 

tain  that  the  Union  lines  would  have  been  broken, 
the  Federal  army  cut  in  twain,  forced  to  rapid 
retreat  to  avoid  capture  or  destruction.  Again, 
it  is  manifest  that  had  the  Federal  army  been 
in  the  open  on  the  third  day  as  on  the  first  and 
for  most  part  on  the  second  day,  General  Meade's 
Union  army  would  have  been  crushed.  As  it  was, 
in  a  well-protected  position,  and  the  battle  well 
conducted  by  General  Meade,  he  barely  escaped 
defeat — too  badly  crippled  to  promptly  pursue  the 
Confederates. 

General  Meade  was  a  good  soldier,  and  the 
Union  army  of  the  Potomac  made  a  splendid 
fight.  No  doubt  General  Meade  and  the  Army 
of  the  Potomac  were  proud  of  their  achievement 
at  Gettysburg,  for  they  had  been  hammered  so 
much  and  so  often  by  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia that  they  doubtless  expected  the  same  old 
bill  of  fare.  A  little  relief  was  comforting;  the 
other  fellows  were  now  sore,  for  Gettysburg  battle 
was  a  sad  and  gloomy  one  for  the  Army  of  North- 
ern Virginia  and  the  Confederacy,  but  the  sur- 
vivors had  not  lost  their  old-time  spirit ;  they  soon 
recuperated,  and  were  themselves  again  ready  for 
the  fray. 

In  the  battles  from  the  Rapidan  to  the  James 
in  the  Spring  and  Summer  of  1864,  the  soldiers 
of  the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  showed  that 


214  THE  STORY  OF 

they  had  not  lost  their  old-time  spirit,  pluck,  and 
fighting  qualities,  and  if  the  more  than  twenty- 
thousand  men  lost  by  General  Lee  at  Gettysburg 
had  been  with  him  in  the  Wilderness,  in  the 
Spring  of  1864,  General  Grant  would  not  have 
reached  the  James  by  that  route.  At  Gettysburg 
General  Meade  had  about  105,000  men;  General 
Lee  about  62,000.  These  figures  are  given  by 
Colonel  Taylor,  a  member  of  General  Lee's  staff, 
and  adjutant-general  of  the  army,  taken,  as  he 
states,  from  the  official  records.  General  Meade 
himself  states  his  strength  not  less  than  95,000 
men.  The  Federal  loss  was  23,049 ;  Confederate, 
20,451. 

The  loss  in  Pickett's  division  was  2,888;  in 
Kemper's  brigade,  58  killed,  356  wounded  and 
317  captured.  In  the  7th  Virginia  regiment  the 
loss  was  67.  In  Company  D,  David  C.  Akers, 
Daniel  Bish,  Jesse  Barrett  and  John  P.  Sublett 
were  killed;  Lieutenant  E.  R.  Walker  and  E.  M. 
Stone,  Sergeant  Taylor  and  myself,  Corporal 
Young,  Privates  William  C.  Fortner,  James  H. 
Fortner,  J.  J.  Hurt,  John  F.  Jones  (leg  ampu- 
tated), John  Meadows,  W.  W.  Muncey  and  D. 
L.  Sarver,  wounded,  and  John  W.  Hight  cap- 
tured; total  17 — over  sixty  per  cent  of  the  number 
led  into  action.  By  this  statement  it  will  be  seen 
that  my  Company  D  came  out  of  the  Battle  of 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  215 

Gettysburg-  with  but  n  men.  J.  B.  Young  be- 
longed to  the  color  guard  of  the  7th  regiment. 
The  color  bearer,  Lieutenant  Watson,  with  his 
guards,  eight  sergeants  and  corporals  going  into 
the  battle  were  all  either  killed  or  wounded.  Our 
colors  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  82d  New  York 
infantry,  commanded  by  Captain  John  Darrow. 
Corporal  Young  was  the  eighth  man  who  had 
the  colors  during  the  fight,  carrying  them  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  enemy's  line  behind  the  stone 
fence,  where  he  was  wounded  and  captured.    The 

colors  were  then  taken  by Tolbert,  a  mere 

boy  of  ours,  who  bore  them  forward  to  the  stone 
fence,  where  he  intended  to  plant  them,  but  was 
shot  in  the  head.  The  colors  were  then  grabbed 
by  the  man  who  fired  the  shot  and  carried  back 
into  the  Union  lines. 

The  loss  in  officers  in  Pickett's  division  was 
something  fearful  to  contemplate.  General  Gar- 
nett  was  killed,  Armi stead  mortally  and  Kemper 
dangerously  wounded.  Of  the  whole  complement 
of  generals  and  field  officers,  aggregating  about 
48,  only  one  lieutenant-colonel  was  left.  The 
division  was  nearly  annihilated.  General  Kem- 
per fell  into  the  enemy's  hands  in  field  hospital 
the  second  day  after  he  was  wounded.  So  bad 
was  his  wound,  and  he  was  believed  to  be  so  near 
death,  that  a  coffin  was  prepared  for  him,  which 


216  THE  STORY  OF 

he  refused  to  use.  He  survived,  and  afterwards 
became  Governor  of  Virginia,  serving*  with  dis- 
tinction and  much  honor  from  his  countrymen. 
During-  his  gubernatorial  term  he  carried  in  his 
hip  a  leaden  bullet  of  standard  weight  and  size. 

Of  the  wounded  in  Company  D,  Lieutenant 
Stone,  Corporal  Young,  Privates  William  C. 
Fortner,  James  H.  Fortner,  Jones,  Hurt  and  the 
writer  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy;  Stone, 
Young,  William  C.  Fortner,  Jones  and  Hurt  on 
the  field;  James  H.  Fortner  and  the  writer  the 
second  day  thereafter  in  the  field  hospital.  Sev- 
eral of  the  men  of  Company  D  in  the  charge  went 
over  the  stone  wall,  only  a  few  getting  back, 
among  them  Sergeant  Taylor,  and  he  wounded. 
Thomas  N.  Mustain,  a  valiant  soldier,  trans- 
ferred from  Company  D  to  the  57th  Virginia 
regiment,  went  over  the  stone  wall,  and  while 
lying  under  the  captured  Union  batteries  was 
severely  wounded  in  the  neck. 

Company  E  of  the  7th  regiment  had  four  men 
— Alec  Legg,  John  Canady,  Willis  Welch  and 
Joseph  Welch — killed  during  the,  artillery  duel 
by  the  explosion  of  a  shell.  The  company  car- 
ried into  the  charge  but  one  officer,  Lieutenant 
Stone,  and  seventeen  men,  all  of  whom  except  one 
man  were  killed,  wounded  or  captured. 

Recurring  to  the  wounding  of  myself  at  the 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  217 

closing  of  the  artillery  duel,  I  was  at  my  post  on 
the  left  of  the  regiment,  which  threw  me  under 
the  shade  of  a  friendly  apple  tree  which  chanced 
to  stand  there.  I  lay  down  near  Colonel  Mayo, 
of  the  3d  regiment,  and  Colonel  Patton  of  the 
7th,  near  the  feet  of  the  latter.  A  little  before 
the  artillery  fire  ceased,  a  Union  battery  at  the 
Cemetery  on  our  left  front  had  on  us  an  enfilading 
fire  with  accurate  range,  which  threw  shell  and 
solid  shot  into  our  ranks.  A  shell  from  this  bat- 
tery struck  the  heads  of  two  men  of  the  3d  regi- 
ment, taking  them  off  above  the  ears,  exploding 
almost  on  me,  not  only  killing  the  two  men  and 
wounding  me,  but  also  wounding  Lieutenant 
Brown  of  the  7th  regiment,  and  another,  who  lay 
close  on  my  right.  Just  a  moment  before  this 
shell  came,  I  had  raised  my  head  up  to  get,  if 
possible,  a  breath  of  fresh  air,  whereupon  Lieu- 
tenant Brown  said  to  me:  "You  had  better  put 
your  head  down  or  you  may  get  it  knocked  off." 
I  replied :  "A  man  had  about  as  well  die  that 
way  as  to  suffocate  for  want  of  air."  The  words 
had  scarcely  escaped  my  lips  when  the  shell  ex- 
ploded, which  for  a  few  moments  deprived  me 
of  my  breath  and  sensibility;  I  found  myself  lying 
off  from  the  position  I  was  in  when  struck,  gasp- 
ing for  breath.  My  ribs  on  left  side  were  broken, 
some   fractured,    left  lung  badly   contused,   and 


218  THE  STORY  OF 

left  limbs  and  side  paralyzed.  My  Colonel  Pat- 
ton  sprang  to  his  feet  inquiring-  if  I  was  badly 
hurt.  I  asked  for  water,  the  first  thing  a  wounded 
man  wants,  and  the  Colonel  had  it  brought  to  me. 
The  marvel  is  that  I  escaped  the  explosion  of  that 
shell  without  being  torn  to  shreds.  Harry  Snidow 
and  another  of  my  old  company  brought  a 
blanket,  placing  it  at  the  base  of  the  apple  tree, 
where  they  set  me  up  against  the  tree.  Just  then 
the  order  came  for  the  men  to  fall  in  for  the 
charge,  which  has  already  been  described. 
Colonel  Mayo,  after  the  war,  describing  this 
day's  battle  and  the  part  taken  by  our  division, 
refers  to  me  as  "one  left  for  dead  under  that 
apple  tree."  I  still  live,  while  the  brave  and  good 
Colonel  has  passed  to  the  Great  Beyond. 

In  a  few  minutes  after  the  men  moved  forward, 
the  "litter  bearers"  picked  me  up  and  bore  me 
back  into  the  woods  to  our  field  hospital,  where 
our  surgeons,  Drs.  Oliver  and  Worthington,  did 
for  me  all  in  their  power.  About  dark  I  was 
removed  by  ambulance  to  the  shed  of  a  farmer's 
barn,  a  mile  or  more  away,  on  Willoughby  Run, 
to  the  place  where  General  Kemper  had  been  re- 
moved, the  farmer  placing  him  in  his  dwelling 
house.  I  visited  this  same  house  twenty-two  years 
later,  where  I  saw  distinctly  the  stains  of  Gen- 
eral Kemper's  blood  on  the  floor.     The  shed  in 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  219 

which  I  was  placed  was  filled  with  the  wounded 
and  dying.  Throughout  that  long  night  and  until 
a  little  before  dawn,  I  spoke  to  no  one,  and  no 
one  to  me,  never  closed  my  eyes  in  sleep ;  the  sur- 
geons close  by  being  engaged  in  removing  the 
limbs  of  those  necessary  to  be  amputated,  and 
all  night  long  I  heard  nothing  but  the  cries  of 
the  wounded  and  the  groans  of  the  dying,  the 
agonies  of  General  Kemper,  who  lay  near  by, 
being  frequently  heard.  Everything  in  the  barn 
was  dark,  but  near  dawn  I  discovered  a  flicker- 
ing light  advancing  toward  me:  it  was  borne  by 
John  W.  Grubb,  of  our  regiment,  who  had  been 
sent  by  our  surgeon  to  look  after  me.  Comrade 
Grubb  was  very  kind  to  me,  preparing  for  me  a 
day  or  two  later  a  bed  and  shelter  in  the  orchard, 
to  which  I  was  removed,  but  he  was  taken  away 
a  prisoner  by  the  Federals. 

During  the  morning  of  Sunday  many  of  our 
wounded  men  were  brought  in,  among  them  Cap- 
tain John  H.  Parr,  adjutant  of  the  7th  regiment, 
and  Lieutenant  Lewis  Bane  of  the  24th  regiment. 
Some  of  these  wounded  men  died  during  the  day. 

During  Sunday  night  and  the  following  day 
the  Confederate  army  was  withdrawing  from  the 
field.  Our  brigade  surgeon,  Dr.  Morton,  and 
General  Elarly  made  visits  to  the  field  hospital, 
urging  all  the  men  able  to  ride  in  wagons  to  go, 


220  THE  STORY  OF 

of  which  a  goodly  number  availed  themselves. 
Shortly  after  the  Confederate  rear  guard  had 
passed  the  field  hospital  where  I  was,  the  Fed- 
eral advance  guard  appeared,  the  Federal  sur- 
geons taking  charge  of  us. 

Lee's  army  continued  the  retreat  into  Virginia, 
and  I  did  not  join  my  command  for  service  for 
four  months  after,  at  Taylorsville. 


Chapter  XIX 


Sketches  and  Incidents  While  a  Wounded 
Prisoner. 

How  Long  in  the  Field  Hospital. 

The  Walk  to  Gettysburg  and  Kindness  Shown 
Me  by  a  Federal  Captain. 

In  Box  Cars  and  Ride  to  Baltimore. 

What  Occurred  in  Baltimore. 

To  Chester,  Pa. 

Dr.  Schafer  and  Another. 

Paroled  and  Back  to  Dixie. 


THE  Federal  surgeon  who  took  charge  of  us 
in  the  field  hospital  at  Gettysburg  made  an 
examination  of  my  wound  and  gave  in- 
structions that  I  should  receive  no  solid  food,  but 
be  fed  lemonade  and  spirits.  Up  to  this  time  and 
for  days  subsequent  I  wanted  no  food,  having 
no  desire  for  it.  A  Union  soldier  from  Ohio  was 
my  nurse,  who  treated  me  with  kindness.  This 
soldier  would  get  the  daily  Philadelphia  news- 
papers and  read  to  me  the  war  news.  Among 
other  things,  that  Lee's  army,  badly  broken,  was 
making  rapid  retreat  for  Virginia;  that  the  loyal 
Potomac  was  at  high  tide,  could  not  be  crossed; 
that  General  Meade's  army  was  pushing  the  Con- 
federates, would  soon  be  up  with  them;  then  the 
following  day  he  read  that  Lee's  army  was  around 
Williamsport,  could  not  get  away;  that  Meade's 
army  was  now  up  and  preparing  for  attack,  only 
waiting  the  arrival  of  food  supplies  and  ammuni- 
tion. When  receiving  these  papers  and  reading 
to  me,  the  soldier's  face  was  all  aglow  with  joy- 
ous expression,  to  which  he  gave  voice  by  saying : 
"The  rebels  will  all  be  captured  and  that  will  end 
the  war."  To  this  I  could  only  smile  inwardly. 
July  13  my  nurse,  with  his  paper  and  a  smile, 
came  to  read  me  the  news.     I  was  prepared  for 


224  THE  STORY  OF 

the  worst — but  when  he  read,  it  was  that  General 
Meade  was  now  up,  fully  ready,  and  the  attack 
would  be  made  tomorrow,  when  Lee  and  his  army 
would  be  captured,  or  driven  into  the  river.  Morn- 
ing came,  and  the  nurse  and  his  paper,  but  as 
he  approached  I  noted  quite  a  change  in  his  ex- 
pression; he  read,  when  General  Meade  moved 
out  to  attack  the  rebel  army,  behold !  "the  old  fox 
had  gone,"  having  crossed  the  river  the  night 
before ! 

July  20  we  were  ordered  to  be  removed  from 
the  field  hospital,  but  to  what  place  we  did  not 
know.  A  Union  captain  of  Pennsylvania,  with 
a  squad  of  soldiers,  conducted  us  to  the  railway 
station  at  Gettysburg  nearly  a  mile  away.  I 
should  not  have  gone,  as  the  journey  came  near 
finishing  me  up.  The  captain  was  exceedingly 
kind,  affording  me  all  the  help  in  his  power.  The 
whole  of  the  wounded  squad  was  put  aboard  box 
cars  at  night,  landing  in  Baltimore  at  dawn,  I 
more  dead  than  alive.  I  felt  sure,  as  the  rough 
train  rolled  along,  that  I  was  near  death.  John 
H.  Peck,  of  the  24th  Virginia,  who  had  a  wound 
in  the  head,  was  with  us,  and  by  encouragement 
and  otherwise  rendered  me  much  assistance. 

In  Baltimore  the  cars  were  run  up  far  into  the 
city,  where  we  left  the  train,  being  immediately 
surrounded  by  a  cordon  of  soldiers  and  police, 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  225 

with  a  number  of  ladies,  men  and  boys,  who 
endeavored  to  supply  us  with  food,  but  were 
beaten  off  by  the  guards,  who  quickly  landed  us 
inside  the  high  plank  fence  surrounding  the 
grounds  of  West  Building  Hospital.  The  ladies 
again  renewed  their  efforts  to  supply  us  with  food 
by  tossing  it  over  the  high  fence,  but  were  re- 
pulsed by  the  soldiers'  bayonets — which  we  still 
think  was  a  mean  act.  With  James  H.  Fortner, 
of  my  company,  who  had  a  severe  flesh  wound 
in  the  thigh,  I  lay  down  beside  the  fence  in  the 
shade,  unable  to  move  further.  In  an  hour  or  less 
an  order  came  to  get  into  ranks.  Neither  Fort- 
ner nor  myself  moved,  being  determined  to  re- 
main and  take  chances.  Fortunate  for  us  that 
we  remained,  for  the  poor  fellows  who  marched 
away  landed  in  Point  Lookout  prison;  the  men 
seriously  wounded,  however,  being  sent  to  hos- 
pital at  Chester,  Pennsylvania,  I  among  the  num- 
ber, with  Fortner.  I  had  requested  Fortner  to 
remain  with  me,  for  should  I  die  he  could  inform 
my  people.  After  comrades  had  marched  away, 
Fortner  and  I  dragged  ourselves  into  the  hos- 
pital building,  lying  down  on  the  bare  floor. 

During  the  evening  two  ladies  came  in  where 
we  were,  one  of  whom  inquired :  "Where  are 
you  from  ?"  "Virginia,"  I  answered.  "Then  you 
are  not  more  than  half  rebels."    Replying,  I  said : 

15 


226  THE  STORY  OF 

"Well,  I  am  a  full-blooded  rebel,  whatever  the 
people  of  Virginia  may  be."  From  their  constant 
glances  at  each  other  and  toward  the  door,  and 
from  the  expressions  on  their  faces,  I  was  well  sat- 
isfied that  at  heart  they  were  true  Southern  spirits, 
angels  of  mercy,  and  had  used  the  above  language 
to  us  fearing  the  walls  had  ears.  Presently  one 
inquired  if  we  wanted  anything  to  eat,  and  being 
told  we  would  be  glad  to  have  milk,  they  fur- 
nished it  and  departed. 

That  night  we  were  placed  on  cots  near  each 
other,  in  a  clean,  airy  room.  Fortner,  in  en- 
deavoring to  assist  me  to  rise,  fell  on  his  wounded 
leg,  which  caused  him  great  pain.  The  second 
night  thereafter,  we  were  placed  in  box  cars, 
passing  next  day  through  Wilmington,  Dela- 
ware, where  a  curious,  motley  crowd  gathered  to 
see  us ;  they  peeped  and  peered  at  us  as  if  aston- 
ished that  we  did  not  have  hoofs  and  horns.  That 
evening  we  reached  Chester,  on  the  Delaware, 
where  we  were  placed  in  hospital  (now  Crozer 
Theological  Seminary).  Here  we  met  a  num- 
ber of  the  men  we  had  parted  from  in  Baltimore, 
among  them  John  H.  Peck  and  J.  B.  Young,  the 
latter  of  Company  D.  The  surgeon  of  our  ward 
was  Dr.  Schafer  of  Philadelphia,  who  was  kind 
to  us.  He,  however,  soon  went  away,  being  suc- 
ceeded by  a  doctor  from  Franklin  County — a  Vir- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  227 

ginia  renegade,  who  was  insulting,  mean  and  cow- 
ardly, and  the  wounded  gave  him  many  a  hard 
thrust. 

While  in  this  hospital  several  ladies  and  gen- 
tlemen from  the  State  of  Connecticut  came  into 
the  ward,  engaging  me  in  conversation  about  the 
war,  saying  among  other  things  that  the  South 
in  seceding  was  wrong  and  unjustifiable,  that  the 
proper  course,  or  that  which  should  have  been 
pursued,  was  to  fight  in  the  Union.  To  which 
I  replied  that  they  were  in  some  respects  much 
like  many  of  the  Northern  people  who  encouraged 
the  South  to  take  action,  that  they  would  be  with 
us,  but  when  the  test  came  were  found  on  the 
other  side.  Again,  that  I  could  not  see  well  how 
we  could  remain  in  the  Union  and  at  the  same 
time  try  to  strangle  and  destroy  the  government 
of  which  we  claimed  to  be  a  part ;  that  it  was  cer- 
tain, had  we  done  so  and  been  overthrown,  we 
would  have  been  traitors  sure  enough  and  most 
likely  have  gone  to  the  gibbet. 

After  a  stay  at  Chester  of  thirty  days  or  less, 
all  who  desired  to  go  South  were  paroled.  I  among 
the  number,  and  were  transported  by  boat  to  City 
Point,  thence  by  rail  to  Richmond.  The  authori- 
ties ordered  us  to  Camp  Lee,  a  Confederate  re- 
cruiting station  near  the  city.  This  we  did  not 
like,  and  a  few  of  us  determined  to  go  home,  or 


228  THE  STORY  OF 

to  our  commands,  and  we  made  the  start,  but 
were  halted  a  little  way  out  of  the  city  by  some 
local  troops,  who  charged  us  with  an  effort  to 
desert.  We  explained  the  situation,  but  this  did 
not  satisfy  them.  I  met  with  a  Confederate  en- 
rolling officer,  who  kindly  took  me  home  with 
him,  giving  me  written  pass  to  my  command, 
then  in  camp  on  the  Rapidan,  whither  I  went, 
and  was  quite  a  surprise  to  Drs.  Morton  and 
Worthington  and  my  comrades,  who  told  me  that 
they  supposed  me  dead.  Dr.  Morton,  who  was 
wearing  a  soft  felt  black  hat,  said  to  me :  "When 
I  left  you  in  the  field  hospital  at  Gettysburg  I 
never  expected  to  see  you  again  in  life.  You 
were  as  black  in  the  face  as  this  hat."  I  soon  had 
furlough  and  went  home,  where  I  remained  until 
the  first  of  November,  when  I  learned  I  had  been 
exchanged,  and  at  once  left  to  rejoin  my  com- 
mand. 

I  forgot  to  relate  an  incident  worthy  of  men- 
tion, at  least  to  me.  In  the  hospital  at  Chester, 
when  Dr.  Schafer  already  referred  to  examined 
me,  he  said :  "Young  man.  do  you  know  you 
are  nearly  dead?"  I  gasped  for  breath,  saying: 
"I  think  it  quite  possible."  Placing  a  small  bot- 
tle of  something  within  my  reach,  he  charged  me 
to  take  of  this  when  inclined  to  cough,  without 
waiting  until  the  coughing  began,  for  he  said : 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  229 

"If  you  have  a  spell  of  coughing  you  would  surely 
die  of  hemorrhage  in  ten  minutes.''  He  then  pro- 
cured for  me  a  nurse,  an  Irishman,  the  father 
of  two  sons  in  the  Union  army,  who  had  been  in 
the  Battle  of  Shiloh,  Tenn.  In  speaking  fondly 
of  these  boys  he  wept  like  a  child.  Fortunate  it 
was  that  I  fell  into  the  hands  of  this  kindly- 
hearted  man,  for  a  mother  could  not  have  cared 
more  tenderly  for  her  son  than  he  did  for  me. 
Such  cases  confirm  the  fact  that  human  sympathy 
asserts  itself  even  in  the  rancors  of  war. 


Chapter  XX 


Return  to  My  Command. 

Long  Stay  at  Taylorsville  in  November  and  De- 
cember, 1863,  and  Part  of  January,  1864. 
Dr.  Blackwell's  Address. 
Our  Second  North  Carolina  Campaign. 
General  and  Mrs.  Pickett  and  Baby  George. 
Back  in  Virginia. 
The  Advance  to  Newbern. 
Capture  and  Execution  of  Deserters. 
In  Camp  at  Goldsboro. 
Shooting  a  Confederate  Deserter. 
The  Shoemaker's  Letter. 
Wilmington  and  Mouth  of  Cape  Fear. 
Return  and  to  Tarboro. 
The  Capture  of  Plymouth,  N.  C. 
To  Washington  and  Newbern. 
Return  to  Virginia. 


I  JOINED  my  command,  then  at  Taylors- 
ville,  Virginia,  whither  it  had  been  sent  to 
rendezvous  and  recruit,  at  the  same  time 
guarding  the  bridges  over  the  North  and  South 
Anna  rivers.  Our  long  stay  at  Taylorsville  dur- 
ing the  months  of  November  and  December, 
1863,  and  for  part  of  January,  1864,  gave  ample 
opportunity  to  discuss  the  serious  aspect  of  affairs. 
We  had  received  a  stunning  blow  at  Gettysburg, 
evidenced  by  the  absence  forever  of  brave  men 
whose  places  could  not  be  supplied.  Naturally 
the  query  was  often  made,  how  long  will  the  war 
last  ?  When  will  it  end  ?  What  are  our  prospects 
for  success?  Will  it  continue  until  the  last  man 
falls?  What  do  the  Northern  people  mean?  Is 
it  their  intention  to  subjugate  the  states,  and  over- 
throw the  citadel  of  liberty  itself?  They  call  us 
rebels — can  a  sovereign  be  a  rebel  ?  We  had  been 
taught  that  the  states  were  sovereign  and  that 
their  governments  were  instituted  to  secure  cer- 
tain inalienable  rights,  with  which  their  Creator 
had  endowed  them — among  these,  life,  liberty  and 
the  pursuit  of  happiness,  and  that  the  security  of 
all  these  resided  with  the  states  and  the  people 
thereof,  and  not  with  their  Federal  agent.  These 
and  manv  other  matters  were  discussed,  and  the 


234  THE  STORY  OF 

general  conclusion  arrived  at  was :  we  will  have  to 
fight  it  out. 

In  the  last  days  of  November,  the  Federal 
army,  under  General  Meade,  crossed  the  Rapidan, 
making  a  feint  as  if  to  attack  the  Army  of  North- 
ern Virginia,  but  instead  re-crossed  the  river, 
seeming  to  have  crossed  for  no  other  purpose 
than  to  cross  back  again.  We  had  orders  to  be 
ready  to  go  to  General  Lee's  aid. 

While  at  Taylorsville  the  Rev.  Dr.  Blackwell, 
who  had  resided  in  the  cities  of  Norfolk  and 
Portsmouth,  Virginia,  during  General  Butler's 
reign  of  terror  therein,  delivered  to  our  brigade 
a  lecture  on  Butler,  his  troops,  and  the  noble 
women  of  those  cities.  After  describing  the  in- 
sults of  the  Federal  soldiery,  and  the  sacrifices 
and  heroic  conduct  of  the  women,  he  pronounced 
upon  them  an  eulogy,  a  part  only  of  which  is  re- 
called, and  is  now  here  reproduced ;  he  began  by 
saying: 

"Woman  is  lovely,  but  not  a  goddess. 
We  call  her  angel,  but  she  has  no  wings  to 
soar  quite  beyond  the  bounds  of  terrene.  She 
is  the  loveliest  form  of  beauty  known  to 
earth,  and  presents  the  purest  type  of  that 
sweet  companionship  that  awaits  us  in  the 
bright  land  of  the  hereafter;  but  still  she  is 
flesh  and  blood,  loves  to  steal  from  the  bow- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  235 

ers  of  her  paradise  and  dwell  with  men, 
mingle  in  the  common  concerns  and  partake 
of  the  common  infirmities  of  the  human  race. 
As  the  graceful  vine  entwines  itself  around 
the  sturdy  oak  when  riven  by  the  lightnings 
of  Heaven,  so  she,  though  the  feebler,  gentler 
sex,  is  the  prop  upon  which  the  sterner  sex 
in  the  midst  of  revolution  often  leans  for 
repose.  *  *  *  And  when  the  history 
of  this  revolution  is  fully  written,  these  noble 
women  will  stand  in  the  front  ranks  of  that 
illustrious  galaxy  of  Southern  females  whose 
heroic  acts  and  beauteous  deeds  have  illum- 
inated our  Heavens,  and  thrown  a  halo  of 
fadeless  glory  around  the  noble  women  of 
Norfolk  and  Portsmouth." 

Our  General  Pickett  was  married,  as  I  now 
recall,  in  September,  1863,  in  Petersburg,  Vir- 
ginia, to  Miss  Corbell,  a  lovely,  highly  cultivated 
Virginia  woman  who  occasionally  rode  with  the 
General  through  our  camps,  attending  the  divi- 
sion review.  Later,  when  Baby  George  arrived, 
he  was  exhibited  in  the  camps,  the  soldiers  eagerly 
fondling  him ;  nor  was  his  linen  as  spotless  or  his 
humor  as  sweet  when  handed  back  to  his  mother 
or  nurse  as  when  the  boys  received  him. 

The  General  and  boy  have  both  passed  to  the 
Great  Beyond,  but  the  lovely  wife  and  mother 


236  THE  STORY  OF 

still  lives  to  brighten  the  memories  of  husband 
and  son,  the  noble  dead  of  the  division,  and  to 
cheer  the  hearts  of  the  brave  men  who  counted  it 
the  honor  of  their  lives  to  have  marched  with  the 
noble  Pickett,  made  famous  for  all  time  to  come 
by  his  charge  at  Gettysburg,  now  celebrated  in 
song  and  literature. 

Our  rations  were  not  abundant  while  at  Tay- 
lorsville;  one  pint  of  unsieved  meal  and  a  quar- 
ter of  a  pound  of  bacon  per  day.  Coffee  was 
made  of  parched  wheat  rye,  and  sometimes  of  rice 
when  we  had  it.  Occasionally  the  men  managed 
to  get  turnips  or  potatoes,  of  which  they  made 
fairly  good  soup.  There  was  so  little  of  the  bacon 
that  we  could  not  afford  to  fry  it,  so  we  generally 
ate  it  raw,  with  an  ash  or  Johnny  cake;  we  had 
but  few  cooking  utensils,  and  had  need  of  few. 

Religious  services  were  held  when  possible; 
the  weather  for  the  most  part  was  too  inclement 
to  have  open  air  services,  and  we  had  no  church. 
Such  services  as  were  had  were  generally  in  the 
messes,  or  conducted  in  the  quarters  of  J.  Tyler 
Frazier,  to  which  all  were  invited. 

Being  under  orders  to  march,  our  preparations 
therefor  completed,  we  took  up  the  movement 
January  20,  going  through  Richmond  and  Peters- 
burg, where  we  were  put  aboard  cars  and  trans- 
ported to  Goldsboro,  N.  C,  remaining  there  a 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  237 

few  days.  Leaving  camp  at  Goldsboro  January 
29,  we  proceeded  to  Kinston,  on  the  Neuse  River, 
thence  through  the  swamps  and  bogs,  crossing 
the  Trent  River  to  the  vicinity  of  Newbern,  N.  C, 
where  we  made  some  captures  of  prisoners  and 
stores,  and  blew  up  a  Federal  gunboat  lying  in 
the  river,  under  the  forts,  which  was  accomplished 
by  Colonel  Wood,  with  his  marines.  A  section 
of  3d  New  York  artillery — two  guns — was  cap- 
tured, together  with  several  hundred  prisoners, 
among  them  35  or  more  of  the  2d  Loyal  North 
Carolina  regiment,  who  had  been  soldiers  in  our 
army,  deserted,  and  joined  the  enemy.  These 
men  were  recognized  and  sent  back  under  guard 
to  Kinston. 

Our  people  found  Newbern  better  prepared  for 
defense  than  was  anticipated,  and  after  some 
strong  reconnaissances  on  all  the  roads,  gather- 
ing up  all  the  supplies  within  reach  that  could  be 
transported,  at  dark.  February  3,  we  silently 
folded  our  tents  and  stole  away,  floundering  all 
night  along  through  the  swamps  and  mud,  cross- 
ing the  Trent  a  little  after  dawn.  During  the 
night  we  passed  through  extensive  turpentine  or- 
chards, which  the  men  set  fire  to,  and  by  the 
light  of  which  many  sloughs  were  avoided.  Our 
movement  continued  until  Kinston  was  reached, 
where  we  rested  a  few  days. 


238  THE  STORY  OF 

The  next  day  after  reaching  Kinston  the  court- 
martial  was  convened  for  the  trial  of  the  thirty- 
five  deserters  referred  to,  who  had  been  captured 
wearing  United  States  uniforms  and  with  guns  in 
their  hands,  fighting  under  the  flag  of  the  enemy. 
The  guilt  of  twenty-two  of  them  being  fully  es- 
tablished, they  were  sentenced  to  be  hanged;  the 
sentence  being  approved  by  the  department  com- 
mander, was  carried  into  execution  a  few  days 
thereafter  in  the  vicinity  of  our  camp :  a  gruesome 
piece  of  business,  which  duty  did  not  require  me 
to  witness. 

About  the  middle  of  February  we  moved  on 
westward  to  Goldsboro.  Rations  were  still  short, 
and  there  was  some  complaint  by  the  farmers 
of  the  loss  of  hogs.  This  complaint  was  not 
without  foundation,  for  fresh  pork  was  found  in 
some  of  the  camps,  and  the  offenders  punished, 
a  penalty,  as  the  writer  believes,  not  deserved. 
Most  of  these  charges  were  made  against  the  24th 
Virginia  regiment,  one  against  some  of  the  team- 
sters of  our  regiment.  A  member  of  Company 
D  was  charged  with  being  the  informant,  though 
he  helped  eat  the  hog,  but  whether  the  charge  was 
true  or  false,  the  informant  made  the  disclosure 
in  order  to  get  a  furlough,  which  he  received,  but 
never  came  back — deserted.  This  same  inform- 
ant had  been  wounded  at  the  second  battle  of 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  239 

Manassas,  and  on  his  return  to  the  command  at 
Goldsboro  claimed  that  he  was  not  able  for  serv- 
ice, taking  up  lodgings  with  some  of  the  team- 
sters. He  wrote  a  letter  to  General  Lee,  which 
ran  about  as  follows: 

"Dear  General :  I  am  a  member  of  Com- 
pany D,  7th  Virginia  Infantry.  I  was 
wounded  at  the  second  battle  of  Manassas 
and  am  unfit  for  duty  in  the  field.  I  am 
a  pretty  fair  shoemaker,  and  if  I  can  be  de- 
tailed, I  am  willing  to  render  all  the  services 
I  can." 

General  Lee  transmitted  the  letter  to  the  regi- 
ment and  the  men  had  a  good  deal  of  fun  out  of 

.     Soon  after  he  became  informant  as 

to  hog  stealing,  got  the  furlough,  and  deserted, 
as  above  stated — good  riddance  to  bad  rubbish. 
A  member  of  Company  B,  7th  regiment,  who 
was  under  death  sentence  for  desertion,  was  kept 
under  strict  guard  with  ball  and  chain.  Late  one 
evening  an  order  came  for  his  execution  the  next 
day.  I  carried  the  order  to  the  officer  of  the 
guard,  whose  instructions  were  to  double  the 
guard  and  see  that  their  guns  were  loaded.  The 
condemned  man's  brother  was  a  member  of  the 
guard,  who,  on  ascertaining  that  his  brother  was 
to  be  shot  the  next  day,  requested  that  I  send 
Rev.  J.  Tyler  Frazier  to  see  him.     Frazier  hap- 


240  THE  STORY  OF 

pened  to  be  out  of  the  camp;  as  soon  as  he  re- 
turned, I  accompanied  him  to  see  the  man,  but 
he  refused  to  listen  to  Mr.  Frazier;  in  fact,  the 
man  did  not  believe  he  would  be  shot  until  the 
next  morning  when  the  wagon  drove  up  with  his 
coffin  and  he  was  required  to  ride  thereon  to  the 
place  of  execution,  where  he  died  from  the  fire 
of  a  platoon  of  men  of  his  own  command. 

March  5  we  moved  by  rail  to  Wilmington, 
thence  by  steamer  to  Smithfield,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Cape  Fear  River.  The  24th  regiment  was 
sent  to  garrison  Forts  Caswell  and  Campbell, 
while  we  remained  in  camp  near  Smithfield. 

I  find  in  a  letter  written  by  me  from  Smith- 
field,  March  14,  the  following:  "It  has  been 
nine  days  since  our  brigade  arrived  at  this  place. 
One  regiment,  the  24th,  has  been  sent  to  garrison 
Forts  Caswell  and  Campbell.  I  have  just  re- 
turned from  a  visit  to  the  former.  We  crossed 
over  in  an  open  boat,  the  distance  being  two  miles. 
There  was  quite  a  lively  time  at  the  forts  this 
morning,  when  the  blockade  runner  'Lucy,'  in  at- 
tempting to  run  in,  was  beached,  the  enemy  mak- 
ing attempt  to  capture  her,  but  he  was  driven  off 
by  our  batteries." 

Here  oysters  were  cheap  and  readily  procured, 
the  men  cooking  them  in  various  ways.  Some 
roasted  them  in  the  shell,  some  ate  them  raw,  and 


Lieut.  Thomas  S.  Taylor 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  241 

some  mixed  them  in  corn  dough  and  baked  them. 
We  did  not  like  the  coast  and  longed  for  our  Vir- 
ginia hills.  Under  orders  we  left  Smithfield 
aboard  a  steamer  for  Wilmington.  The  river  was 
full  of  torpedoes  and  we  were  in  dread  of  being 
blown  up.  The  situation  was  in  some  measure 
relieved  by  Bill  Dean  and  his  Glee  Club,  who 
sang :  "Oh !  Carry  Me  Back  to  Old  Virginia  Once 
More." 

Wilmington  was  reached  Saturday,  the  26th, 
where  the  ground  was  covered  with  a  light  snow, 
which  increased  in  depth  as  we  receded  from  the 
coast.  We  moved  by  rail  from  Wilmington  to 
Goldsboro,  where  we  went  into  camp  until  Friday, 
the  first  of  April,  when  the  march  was  again  taken 
up  through  snow  and  mud  to  Tarboro,  thence 
through  Greenville,  crossing  over  to  the  waters 
of  the  Roanoke,  to  the  vicinity  of  Plymouth, 
N.  C,  where  on  the  18th  a  portion  of  Hoke's  bri- 
gade (21st  Georgia  regiment),  assailed  late  in 
the  evening  an  outlying  fort,  in  which  assault 
Colonel  Mercer  was  killed  and  the  assault  re- 
pulsed. Later  the  same  evening  this  fort  was  sur- 
rounded by  a  portion  of  our  brigade  with  a  cloud 
of  sharpshooters  and  artillery,  which  prevented 
the  garrison  from  handling  their  guns,  and  the 
fort  finally  surrendered.     The  investing  force  of 


16 


242  THE  STORY  OF 

the  town  were  the  brigades  of  Ransom,  Hoke  and 
Terry,  formerly  Kemper's. 

Sergeant  William  Parrott  of  Charlottesville 
and  I  that  night  bore  a  flag  of  truce  to  the 
enemy's  lines,  under  which  demand  for  the  sur- 
render of  the  town  was  made,  but  refused.  Dur- 
ing the  night  the  Confederate  iron  clad  ram 
"Albemarle"  came  down  the  Roanoke  River  and 
aided  in  the  assault  next  morning,  when  the 
enemy's  works  and  the  town  were  carried,  the 
garrison  surrendering  when  all  hope  of  success- 
ful resistance  was  gone.  Our  brigade  was  moved 
across  the  Washington  road,  whereon  the  enemy 
was  attempting  to  escape.  In  this  movement  we 
were  brought  under  the  fire  of  the  heavy  guns  in 
the  forts,  which  at  close  range  gave  us  a  severe 
shelling,  whereby  quite  a  number  of  men  of  the 
brigade  were  injured — a  few  in  our  regiment — 
but  two  in  Company  D — A.  L.  Fry  and  John  W. 
East — slightly  wounded.  Soon  after  occupying 
the  road  referred  to  and  close  up  to  the  enemy's 
entrenchments,  there  came  at  a  headlong  run  up 
to  our  line,  and  before  he  discovered  us,  a  big, 
black,  burly  negro  soldier,  the  first  of  his  kind 
we  had  seen.  The  negro  was  so  badly  frightened 
that  had  it  been  possible  he  would  have  changed 
his  color. 

The  fruits   of   this  victory,   at   comparatively 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  243 

small  cost,  were  the  Federal  commander,  General 
Wessels,  and  1,600  prisoners,  besides  about  700 
negroes,  2,000  small  arms,  and  valuable  quarter- 
master and  commissary  stores,  the  capture  and 
sinking  of  one  or  more  Federal  gunboats.  From 
the  commissary  and  sutler's  stores  the  men  ob- 
tained bountiful  supplies  of  food,  underwear, 
boots  and  shoes.  The  Federal  loss  in  this  battle, 
other  than  prisoners,  artillery  and  stores  already 
mentioned,  was  41  killed  and  59  wounded.  The 
Confederate  loss,  124  killed  and  174  wounded. 
Our  enjoyment  was  but  brief,  however,  for  that 
evening  we  took  the  road  to  Washington,  a  town 
at  the  head  of  Pamlico  Sound,  marching  rapidly, 
so  that  by  night  we  were  in  the  neighborhood  of 
our  destination,  which  early  next  morning  Gen- 
eral Hoke  was  preparing  to  invest,  when  it  was 
discovered  that  the  enemy  had  evacuated  it ;  dis- 
gracing themselves  and  their  flag  before  their 
departure  by  arson  and  pillage. 

General  Hoke,  determined  to  push  his  suc- 
cesses, marched  immediately  upon  Xewbern,  de- 
manding its  surrender,  which,  being  refused,  he 
was  preparing  to  carry  by  assault,  when  he  was 
directed  to  hasten  to  the  relief  of  Petersburg, 
now  threatened  by  a  strong  Federal  army  under 
General  Butler. 

At  Tarboro,  B.  L.  Hoge  was}  taken  sick  and 


244  THE  STORY  OF 

sent  to  hospital,  and  J.  B.  Croy  had  been  sent  on 
detached  service  to  the  Blackwater  region.  How 
many  of  Company  D  were  on  this  expedition  to 
Plymouth,  Washington  and  Newbern,  I  am  un- 
able to  state,  but  I  know  the  company  had  been 
much  reduced  in  numbers.  Lieutenant  Stone  was 
still  a  prisoner  at  Fort  Delaware,  Lieutenant 
Walker,  disabled  at  Gettysburg,  had  been  retired ; 
Captain  Bane  and  Lieutenant  Mullins  were  the 
only  commissioned  officers  with  us. 

In  May,  1864,  the  Federal  General  Butler 
landed  at  City  Point,  on  the  James,  with  an  army 
of  more  than  25,000  men,  and  feeling  his  way 
carefully  and  slowly  toward  Petersburg,  had  on 
the  9th  reached  Swift  Creek,  three  miles  north 
of  the  city.  Confronting  him  was  General 
Pickett,  with  a  small  number  of  Carolina  troops, 
and  a  few  pieces  of  artillery.  Pickett  kept  his 
men  so  well  in  hand  and  so  maneuvered  as  to  con- 
ceal from  his  adversary  his  real  weakness.  In 
this  situation  and  while  the  Confederates  were  far 
away,  near  Newbern,  with  the  Federals  threat- 
ening Richmond  and  Petersburg,  General  Hoke, 
in  front  of  Newbern,  received  an  order  to  repair 
with  haste  to  Petersburg.  About  dark  on  May 
6  we  left  the  front  of  Newbern,  the  head  of  the 
column  directed  for  Petersburg,  about  175  miles 
away.     The  1st  Virginia  had  hastened  through 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  245 

to  Kinston,  where  it  obtained  railroad  transpor- 
tation, which  carried  it  to  Jarrett's,  twenty  miles 
south  of  Petersburg.  Our  column,  taking  a  bee 
line,  moved  night  and  day,  having  to  halt  occa- 
sionally at  the  tidewater  streams  to  build  bridges 
out  of  round  logs  thrown  into  the  water  and 
fastened  together  with  grapevines.  Reaching 
Stony  Creek,  twenty  miles  or  more  south  of 
Petersburg,  we  found  the  railroad  bridge  de- 
stroyed by  the  Federal  cavalry.  The  situation 
at  Petersburg  was  so  pressing  as  to  demand  the 
presence  of  the  troops  without  delay.  All  the 
rolling  stock  of  every  kind  of  the  railroad  at  that 
point  was  rushed  to  meet  us,  and  we  boarded  the 
cars  just  wherever  we  met  them.  By  u  o'clock 
Thursday,  May  12,  we  were  in  the  city,  and  Gen- 
eral Butler  had  lost  his  opportunity.  Never  be- 
fore had  we  done  such  marching.  Mr.  D.  H. 
Hill,  in  his  Confederate  Military  History  of  North 
Carolina,  page  248.  speaking  of  this  march  of 
General  Hoke  from  Newbern  to  Petersburg,  says : 
"This  march  of  General  Hoke's  troops  stands  at 
West  Point  as  the  most  rapid  movement  of  troops 
on  record." 

Apparently  the  whole  populace,  men,  women 
and  children,  of  Petersburg  had  gathered  to  wel- 
come us,  their  deliverers  from  the  presence  and 
hand  of  General  Butler,  whose  notoriety  in  New 


246  THE  STORY  OF 

Orleans,  Norfolk  and  Portsmouth  had  won  for 
him  the  appellation  "Beast  Butler,"  a  reputation 
world-wide.  General  Butler  was,  therefore,  re- 
garded by  these  people  as  a  menace  to  the  safety 
of  property  and  helpless  women  and  children. 
This  is  why  everybody  in  Petersburg  shouted  for 
joy  when  we  entered  the  city  and  marched  across 
the  Appomattox  to  interpose  between  them  and 
Butler's  troops.  We  went  forward  to  Swift 
Creek,  taking  position  on  the  east  side  of  the 
turnpike  road  in  front  of  the  enemy's  skirmishers. 
The  shades  of  night  now  having  fallen,  we  lay 
on  our  arms,  discovering  next  morning  by  the 
advance  of  our  skirmishers  that  the  enemy  had 
withdrawn  from  our  front,  whereupon  we  pro- 
ceeded along  the  road  leading  to  Richmond,  the 
rear  guard  being  fired  upon  as  we  passed  the 
"Halfway  House."  Reaching  the  outer  defenses 
of  Dreuery's  Bluff,  our  brigade,  now  commanded 
by  Brigadier-General  W.  R.  Terry,  was  placed 
in  battle  line  on  the  west  side  of  the  aforesaid 
turnpike  road,  facing  south — having  by  the  day's 
march  placed  ourselves  between  the  enemy  and 
Richmond. 


Chapter  XXI 


Battle  of  Dreury's  Bluff. 

The  Forces  Engaged. 

Casualties. 

The  Pursuit  of  General  Butler's  Troops. 

Bombardment  at  Howlett's  House. 

The  Wounding  of  Lieutenant  John  W.  Mullins. 

His  Death. 

Withdrawal  from  Howlett's  House. 


GENERAL  BEAUREGARD,  in  command 
of  the  department,  arrived  on  the  morning 
of  the  14th,  having  passed  with  a  cavalry 
escort  entirely  around  the  enemy's  left.  About 
noon  of  the  15th  we  were  moved  to  an  inner  line 
of  defenses,  which  shortened  the  line  to  be  de- 
fended ;  this  was  made  necessary  by  the  smallness 
of  our  force,  for  it  appears  that  the  Confederates 
had  only  13,000  men  with  which  to  meet  Butler's 
40,000.  This  Confederate  force  was  divided,  two 
or  three  brigades  remaining  at  Petersburg  under 
General  Whiting.  Xo  help  could  be  had  from 
the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  then  engaged  in 
desperate  struggle  at  Spottsylvania,  with  the  Fed- 
eral Army  of  the  Potomac. 

It  was  made  known  to  us  on  the  evening  of  the 
15th  that  at  a  council  of  war  held  by  General 
Beauregard  and  his  subordinates  it  had  been  de- 
termined to  attack  General  Butler's  army  next 
morning  at  daylight,  and  that  the  division  of  Gen- 
eral Ransom,  to  which  our  brigade  (Terry's)  be- 
longed, was  to  lead  the  attack.  Late  in  the  day, 
Sunday,  we  marched  toward  the  James  River  to 
a  point  overlooking  Kingsland  Creek,  behind 
which,  on  the  higher  ground  beyond,  the  enemy 
was  in  line  of  battle  in  force,  sheltered  by  tern- 


250  THE  STORY  OF 

porary  log  breastworks,  a  small  body  of  Confeder- 
ate cavalry  guarding  the  Confederate  left.  Being 
supplied  with  sixty  rounds  of  cartridges,  we  lay 
down  in  a  skirt  of  timber  near  the  old  stage  road 
leading  from  Richmond  to  Petersburg,  a  little 
more  than  three-fourths  of  a  mile  from  the 
enemy's  line.  We  were  informed  that  we  should 
be  up  at  2  A.  M.,  march  forward  and  open  the 
battle  at  daylight.  Some  who  had  passed  un- 
scathed through  the  ordeal  of  a  dozen  battles  were 
to  go  down  in  this,  among  them  the  gallant  boy 
Walker,  of  the  nth  regiment,  who  had  borne 
aloft  and  planted  on  the  enemy's  works  at  Gettys- 
burg the  flag  of  this  regiment,  having  his  horse 
killed  under  him  there  and  a  number  of  bullets 
through  his  clothing. 

To  fight  this  battle  of  Dreury's  Bluff  was  im- 
perative, and  to  become  the  assailants  was  a  neces- 
sity, for  if  the  enemy  should  maintain  his  posi- 
tion then  occupied  in  front  of  Dreury's  Bluff 
(only  seven  miles  below  Richmond)  and  General 
Grant  continued  his  flank  movement  to  the  James 
River  until  he  formed  a  junction  with  General 
Butler,  the  fate  of  Richmond,  and  most  prob- 
ably of  the  Confederacy,  would  have  been  decided 
a  year  earlier;  hence  this  battle,  and  the  necessity 
of  fighting  it  successfully,  which  we  did. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  night  preceding, 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  251 

I  visited  the  artillery  company  of  Captain  David 
A.  French,  from  my  county.  Captain  French 
was  absent  that  evening-,  the  company  under  the 
command  of  his  brave  Lieutenant  D.  W.  Mason. 
Captain  French  arrived  next  day  during  the  pro- 
gress of  the  battle.  Lieutenant  Mason  led  his 
company  in  the  thickest  of  the  fight,  sustaining 
his  already  brilliant  record  as  a  brave  soldier. 
Promptly  at  2  A.  M.  on  Monday,  the  16th,  we 
were  roused  from  our  slumbers  and  quickly  got- 
ten into  line,  discarding  all  baggage — indeed, 
everything  that  would  make  a  noise  calculated  to 
arouse  the  enemy.  Stealing  quietly  out  of  the 
woods,  we  proceeded  down  the  old  stage  road, 
through  a  field,  across  Kingsland  Creek,  where 
we  halted,  forming  a  line  of  battle.  The  Alabama 
brigade  of  General  Gracie,  and  the  North  Carolina 
brigade  of  General  Hoke,  formed  the  front  line, 
with  Generals  Terry's  and  Fry's  commands  four 
hundred  yards  in  rear,  forming  the  second  line. 
The  assaulting  force  could  not  have  numbered 
four  thousand  men  all  told.  What  was  in  front 
of  us  we  did  not  know,  being  already  enveloped 
by  a  dense  fog.  The  columns  now  formed,  the 
brigade  of  Gracie  led  off,  ours  following  at  close 
distance.  The  Federal  skirmishers  in  their  rifle 
pits,  alarmed  by  the  commands  of  our  officers, 
fired  rapidly,  but  at  random,  as  they  could  not  see 


252  THE  STORY  OF 

us  on  account  of  the  fog;  but  their  fire  aroused 
their  main  line  of  battle.  The  ground  over  which 
the  attacking  column  passed  was  a  gradual  ascent 
from  the  creek  bottom  for  a  distance  of  three 
hundred  yards  to  the  summit,  then  a  slight  descent 
for  the  same  distance  to  the  enemy's  battle  line, 
the  right  of  which  rested  on  a  swamp  rendered 
almost  impenetrable  on  account  of  the  water, 
thorns  and  brambles. 

Terry's  brigade,  only  forty  or  fifty  yards  in 
rear  of  Gracie's,  reached  the  summit  almost  as 
soon  as  Gracie's  men,  who,  as  well  as  ourselves, 
became  immediately  exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire, 
which  as  yet  was  not  effective,  for  they  could  not 
see  us,  and  now  as  the  fire  had  opened,  the  smoke 
therefrom,  together  with  the  dense  fog,  created 
a  darkness  in  which  a  man  could  not  be  seen  a 
few  yards  away.  General  Terry  had  halted  his 
brigade  on  the  summit,  where  it  was  receiving 
the  enemy's  fire,  now  becoming  more  accurate, 
causing  some  of  the  companies  on  the  right  to  lie 
down.  Colonel  Flowerree,  now  commanding  the 
7th  Virginia,  observing  this,  called  out :  "Stand 
up,  men!  Don't  you  see  the  balls  are  striking 
the  ground  at  your  feet,  and  there  is  greater  dan- 
ger lying  down  than  standing  up." 

On  our  immediate  right  was  Barton's  brigade, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Fry.     A  part  of  Gracie's 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  253 

men  had  gotten  close  to  the  enemy's  line,  meet- 
ing such  stubborn  resistance  that  they  lay  down 
and  our  brigade  was  ordered  forward.  Now  was 
the  supreme  moment.  Such  a  deafening  rebel 
yell !  It  must  have  given  every  Yankee  in  the 
region  roundabout  a  cold  chill,  for  to  this  day 
they  say  that  hideous  rebel  yell  was  dreaded  more 
than  bullets.  Here  on  this  summit  we  had  stood 
in  awful  suspense  for  twenty  minutes  or  more, 
exposed  to  the  enemy's  fire.  It  was  therefore  a 
positive  relief  to  hear  the  word  :  "Forward !"  And 
forward  we  went,  through  fog,  smoke  and  leaden 
hail.  At  each  volley  delivered  by  the  enemy,  down 
went  numbers  of  our  men,  and  as  yet  not  a  man 
in  our  brigade  had  fired  a  shot,  anxious  at  least 
to  see  something  to  shoot  at,  and  to  get  to  closer 
quarters. 

The  7th  Virginia  held  the  left  of  the  brigade 
line,  overlapping  by  three  or  more  companies  the 
left  of  Grade's  line.  These  companies  in  the  head- 
long rush  saw  nothing  of  Gracie's  men,  who  had 
halted  and  laid  down.  Now  near  the  enemy's 
firing  line,  unable  to  get  forward  on  account  of 
the  swamp  referred  to.  Captain  Parr.  Adjutant, 
took  these  three  companies  by  a  double  quick  to  a 
position  on  the  right  wing,  but  before  this  could 
be  accomplished  the  regiment  had  broken  the 
enemy's  line — that  of  a  New  Jersey  regiment  of 


254  THE  STORY  OF 

Heckmarfs  brigade — and  crossed  his  breast- 
works, making  a  right  wheel,  uniting  with  the 
companies  led  by  Captain  Parr,  and  struck  the 
flank  of  the  27th  Massachusetts  regiment,  cap- 
turing its  Colonel  (Lee),  together  with  its  colors, 
a  large  number  of  prisoners,  including  General 
Heckman,  the  brigade  commander,  who  was 
captured  by  Sergeant  Blakey  of  F  Company,  who 
surrendered  his  sword  to  Colonel  Flowerree  of 
our  regiment.  This  incident  was  witnessed  by 
the  writer.  This  wheel  and  attack  upon  the 
enemy's  flank  and  rear  had  relieved  the  pres- 
sure on  the  1st,  nth  and  24th  regiments,  which 
for  some  minutes  before  were  engaged  in  a 
hand-to-hand  contest  with  the  enemy  behind 
their  breastworks;  indeed,  so  close  had  they 
gotten  that  the  men  did  not  take  time  to  return 
ramrods  to  their  thimbles,  but  ran  down  the 
cartridges,  fired  away,  filling  the  logs  of  the 
breastworks  and  trees  with  the  ramrods.  This 
may  be  thought  a  fish  story,  but  it  is  absolutely 
true.  French's  Giles  County  battery  of  four 
guns  already  mentioned  was  on  the  field  just  to 
our  right  and  in  the  hottest  of  the  battle,  suffer- 
ing loss  in  making  a  brave  fight. 

The  loss  in  the  1st,  nth  and  24th  regiments 
of  our  brigade  had  been  severe  in  officers  and 
men — some   companies   losing  nearly   half  their 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  255 

number  in  killed  and  wounded.  The  color  ser- 
geant of  the  nth  regiment  had  a  bayonet  fixed 
to  the  point  of  his  color  staff,  which  he  used  with 
effect  upon  the  enemy  at  the  breastworks.  The 
brigade  continued  its  flank  movement  along  the 
rear  of  the  enemy's  position  until  it  had  cleared 
the  whole  of  its  original  front,  and  had  gained 
a  position  looking  back  towards  Kingsland 
Creek,  where  it  halted  and  faced  about,  taking 
possession  of  the  enemy's  log  breastworks  and 
fronting  the  enemy.  A  short  lull  now  followed, 
during  which  an  Irish  Sergeant  of  the  1st  regi- 
ment came  to  me  talking  with  J.  Tyler  Frazier. 
and  presented  me  with  a  fine  black  felt  hat,  lost 
by  some  Federal  officer  in  his  hurry  to  get  away, 
about  which  hat  the  sequel  will  appear  later.  In 
a  few  minutes  the  enemy  on  our  right  flank  was 
upon  us,  and  before  action  could  be  taken  to 
meet  them,  fired  a  volley  enfilading  our  line,  but 
thanks  to  their  bad  aim  and  the  fact  that  the 
men  were  mostly  lying  down,  nobody  was  hurt ; 
however,  in  making  left  wheel  to  meet  this  as- 
sault, four  men  were  injured;  among  them  I  re- 
call Sergeant  Carpenter  of  Company  A.  a  gal- 
lant soldier,  was  killed ;  Sergeant  Fry  of  D  Com- 
pany in  the  melee  fell — he  may  have  stumped  his 
toe.  The  Confederate  troops  on  our  right  struck 
the  flank  of  the  enemy,  who  had  flanked  us,  and 


256  THE  STORY  OF 

repulsed  their  attack,  and  with  this  the  battle 
virtually  ended.  Butler  was  retreating  and  get- 
ting away — a  thing  he  was  good  at.  He  had  had 
enough  and  was  willing  to  quit.  He  retired  be- 
hind his  intrenched  line  at  Bermuda  Hundred, 
where  the  Confederates  "bottled  him  up." 

The  Federal  casualties  in  this  battle  were  422 
killed,  2380  wounded,  of  which  1388  were  made 
prisoners,  together  with  five  stand  of  colors,  of 
which  four  of  the  colors  and  400  of  the  prisoners 
were  taken  by  our  brigade,  and  five  field  guns 
were  captured.  The  Confederate  casualties  were 
514  killed,  1086  wounded.  In  Terry's  brigade 
the  losses  were  as  follows : 

1st  Virginia  12  killed,  25  wounded 

7th  Virginia  2  killed,  37  wounded 

nth  Virginia  15  killed,  94  wounded 

24th  Virginia  28  killed,  108  wounded 

57  killed,  264  wounded 

Total  321 

The  brave  Colonel  Maury  and  Major  Ham- 
brick  of  the  24th  were  wounded,  the  former 
severely  when  within  a  few  feet  of  the  enemy's 
line,  the  latter  mortally.  Company  D  of  the  7th 
regiment  lost  John  W.  East,  and  John  S.  Dud- 
ley, slightly  wounded.  The  losses  in  the  7th 
regiment  were  less  on  account  of  its  being  less 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  257 

exposed  in  its  flank  movement  on  the  enemy's 
right  and  rear. 

The  Confederate  troops  remained  on  the  bat- 
tle field  that  night,  burying  the  dead  and  caring 
for  the  wounded.  Early  next  morning  we 
started  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  whom  we  fol- 
lowed on  this  and  the  next  day  to  the  Howlett 
house  on  the  James,  where  the  Confederates  had 
some  unfinished  earthworks.  Reaching  the  edge 
of  an  open  field  on  which  the  earthworks  were 
located,  I  was  directed  to  go  forward  to  the  works 
to  see  what  or  who  was  there,  and  finding  the 
trenches  entirely  abandoned,  I  waived  my  cap, 
when  the  ist  and  7th  regiments  speedily  came  up 
and  took  possession.  Here  they  suffered  eleven 
hours  from  an  unmerciful  shelling  from  a  num- 
ber of  Federal  gunboats  in  the  river.  Several 
men  of  the  two  regiments  were  killed  or  injured. 
Lieutenant  John  W.  Mullins  of  Company  D, 
in  command  of  the  skirmish  line,  was  danger- 
ously wounded  in  the  breast,  dying  on  the  226. 
of  June  following.  He  was  a  bright  and  brave 
young  man.  Major  Howard  and  Sergeant  Tom 
Fox  of  the  regiment  were  badly  hurt.  With- 
drawing the  evening  of  the  19th,  we  went  into 
camp  a  short  distance  from  the  Clay  house. 


17 


Chapter  XXII 


To  Richmond. 

Captured  Flags. 

Affair  at  Milford. 

Hanover  Junction. 

Xorth  Anna. 

Cold  Harbor. 

Tom  YowelFs  Yarn. 

John  A.  Hale  and  His  Prisoner. 

Malvern  Hill. 


MAY  20  the  brigade  marched  into  Rich- 
mond, each  of  the  regiments  bearing  one 
of  the  captured  flags  taken  in  the  engage- 
ment of  Dreury's  Bluff.  In  the  evening  a  por- 
tion of  the  command  was  placed  on  flat  cars  and 
transported  to  Milford  station,  on  the  R.  F.  and 
P.  railroad,  a  few  miles  south  of  Fredericksburg, 
where  on  the  next  morning  we  were  attacked  by 
the  advance  of  General  Grant's  army,  Torbett's 
cavalry.  The  portion  of  our  brigade  present 
now  numbered  less  than  500  men,  commanded 
by  Major  George  F.  Norton  of  the  1st  regiment, 
with  Sergeant  Major  J.  R.  Pollock  acting  Assist- 
ant Adjutant  General.  After  a  spirited  contest 
of  more  than  an  hour,  in  which  the  repeated 
charges  of  the  Federal  cavalry  were  repulsed. 
Major  Norton  ordered  the  men  to  retire,  and 
they  withdrew  across  the  river,  the  Mattapony, 
Captain  Parr  and  I  dismantling  the  bridge  by 
throwing  the  planks  from  the  center  into  the 
river,  thus  preventing  immediate  pursuit  by  the 
Federal  cavalry.  The  tough  resistance  given  the 
Federal  advance,  together  with  the  story  of  Tom 
Yowell  of  the  7th  regiment,  given  below,  caused 
the  Federal  General  Hancock  to  halt  his  com- 


262  THE  STORY  OF 

mand,  throw  up  intrenchments  and  prepare  for 
an  attack.  This  halt  gave  General  Lee  time  to 
reach  Hanover  Junction  in  advance  of  the  enemy. 

A  correspondent  of  a  Northern  newspaper 
with  the  Union  army  reported  on  May  22,  "The 
army  under  Hancock  arrived  at  Milford  yester- 
day and  met  a  force  of  the  enemy  said  to  be 
13,000  strong,  drove  them  through  the  town  and 
pursued  them  some  distance."  The  only  Confed- 
erate troops  Hancock  met  were  the  500  above 
mentioned,  and  there  were  no  others  within  sev- 
eral miles. 

Tom  Yowell  had  been  captured  on  the  skirmish 
line  and  was  taken  to  General  Hancock,  who  in- 
quired to  what  command  he  belonged.  Yowell 
with  much  bravado  told  him  we  had  given  Butler 
the  devil  a  few  days  before,'  and  that  our  brigade 
was  the  advance  of  General  Lee's  army  from 
Spottsylvania,  and  pointing  south  to  a  large 
white  house  a  mile  or  more  away,  said,  "That  is 
General  Lee's  headquarters."  Yowell  told  his 
story  with  so  much  apparent  frankness  that  Gen- 
eral Hancock  believed  it.  The  Confederate  loss 
in  this  affair  was  70  men,  mostly  of  the  1  ith  regi- 
ment, captured,  some  of  whom  were  wounded. 
These  were  cut  off  from  the  bridge  by  the  rapid 
advance  of  the  enemy,  some  of  whom,  with  those 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  263 

who  were  cut  off,  escaped  by  swimming  the 
river. 

Our  force  joined  the  main  army  en  route  from 
Spottsylvania  to  Hanover  Junction.  Here  we 
were  also  joined  by  a  portion  of  Breckenridge's 
small  division  from  the  valley,  where  a  little 
more  than  a  week  before  it  had  defeated  the 
Federal  army  under  General  Sigel.  On  this 
rapid  march  from  Milford  to  Hanover  Junction, 
John  A.  Hale  of  Company  D  was  unable  to  keep 
up  and  to  prevent  capture  took  to  the  woods,  fol- 
lowing the  line  of  march,  keeping  the  general  di- 
rection. Going  to  a  private  house  for  food,  he 
found  a  Union  soldier  there  on  the  same  errand, 
whom  he  captured  and  brought  into  our  lines. 

Held  in  reserve,  we  had  little  or  nothing  to 
do  with  the  righting  at  the  North  Anna.  On  May 
27  we  made  an  all  day  march  in  the  rain,  going 
into  camp  near  Atlee's  station.  In  the  evening 
of  the  following  day  a  march  was  made  twelve 
miles  in  the  direction  of  Hanovertown,  camping 
three  miles  north  of  Mechanicsville,  following 
General  Grant  around  the  circle.  On  the  eve- 
ning of  the  30th  we  reached  our  position  in  battle 
line  near  Cold  Harbor,  being  assigned  a  place  on 
the  left  of  Law's  Alabama  brigade  and  Hoke's 
division. 

At  4  o'clock,  June  2,  the  battle  of  Cold  Harbor 


264  THE  STORY  OF 

began  on  our  right,  raging  furiously  until  sun- 
set. By  means  of  an  improvised  telegraphy,  in- 
formation was  received  that  the  enemy  had  been 
repulsed.  This  improvised  telegraphy  was  noth- 
ing more  than  passing  word  from  man  to  man 
and  on  this  occasion  came,  "Pass  it  along  the 
lines  that  we  have  whipped  the  enemy  on  the 
right."  Early  on  the  morning  of  the  3d  the 
battle  of  Cold  Harbor  was  resumed,  Hoke's, 
Breckenridge's  and  part  of  Anderson's  divisions 
being  engaged  on  the  right.  When  the  battle 
ended,  we  were  informed  by  the  same  telegraphic 
line  that  the  enemy  had  been  defeated.  On  our 
front  had  been  nothing  more  than  artillery  fire, 
with  severe  skirmishing.  However,  as  the  bat- 
tle progressed,  our  division  was  ordered  to  be 
ready  to  attack  the  enemy  in  front,  and  we  were 
very  well  satisfied  when  the  order  was  revoked. 
In  Breckenridge's  division,  heavily  engaged  on 
the  3d,  I  had  a  schoolmate,  Lieutenant  James  K. 
Peck,  of  whom  I  was  fond,  and  for  whose  safety 
I  was  anxious.  I  was  greatly  distressed  on  learn- 
ing a  few  days  afterwards  that  he  was  killed  on 
the  3d. 

The  Federal  casualties  in  the  battle  at  Cold 
Harbor  were  over  10,000;  the  Confederate  1500. 
I  find  no  report  of  casualties  in  our  division, 
brigade  or  regiment ;  no  casualties  in  Company  D. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  265 

I  had  the  opportunity  to  look  at  a  portion  of 
the  battlefield  in  front  of  the  position  held  by 
General  Hoke's  division  on  the  3d.  During  the 
war  I  never  saw  so  many  dead  Union  soldiers  on 
any  field.  General  Hoke's  division  had  not  a 
man  killed.  The  weather  was  oppressively  hot. 
The  blood,  burnt  powder,  and  dead  bodies  pro- 
duced a  stench  which  cannot  be  described,  and 
not  to  be  endured  long  by  the  living. 

General  Grant  was  again  moving,  not  toward 
Richmond,  but  away  from  it,  toward  the  James 
river;  we  following,  ten  days  after  the  battle, 
crossing  to  the  south  side  of  the  Chickahominy, 
keeping  between  the  Federal  army  and  Rich- 
mond, and  this  tramp  watching  the  movement  of 
General  Grant  was  kept  up  until  the  vicinity  of 
Malvern  Hill  was  reached. 

I  cannot  well  help  breaking  the  thread  of  my 
narrative  to  tell  a  little  humorous  camp  story 
prevalent  among  our  men  just  after  the  battle 
of  Cold  Harbor.  It  was  claimed  to  have  been 
told  by  a  Union  soldier  to  some  of  our  men.  It 
ran  thus :  A  private  Union  soldier  who  had 
been  in  the  battle  and  saw  the  terrific  slaughter, 
said  to  his  captain,  "We  have  killed  and  had 
killed  enough  men  and  the  war  should  end,  and 
I  know  what  will  end  it."  The  captain  inquired, 
"What?"     "Take  Richmond,"  was  the  response. 


266  THE  STORY  OF 

"Yes,"  said  the  captain,  "that  is  what  General 
Grant  is  trying  to  do."  The  soldier  insisting  that 
he  knew  how  Richmond  could  be  taken,  and  the 
captain  pressing  him  to  know,  he  replied :  "Swap 
Generals !" 


Chapter  XXIII 


From  Malvern  Hill  to  the  South  of  the  James. 

Engagement  at  Clay's  House. 

Bermuda  Hundred  Line. 

Christmas  Dinner. 

Our  Southern  Women. 

Close  of  1864. 


JUNE  15  Pickett's  division  marched  from 
the  vicinity  of  Malvern  Hill  up  the  James, 
crossing-  the  river  the  morning  of  June  16, 
on  a  bridge  near  Dreury's  Bluff,  then  passing 
over  the  battlefield  of  that  name,  which  battle 
we  had  fought  one  month  before,  reaching  the 
Petersburg  turnpike.  When  near  Port  Walthall 
Junction,  the  head  of  the  column  was  fired  upon 
by  the  enemy,  who  had  possession  of  the  road. 
The  division  was  immediately  formed  in  line  of 
battle  on  the  turnpike,  sending  out  skirmishers, 
driving  the  enemy  and  regaining  our  first  line 
of  works,  which  had  been  vacated  that  morning 
by  the  troops  having  been  called  to  Petersburg. 
The  next  day  commenced  heavy  skirmish  firing. 
Company  D  was  on  the  skirmish  line  the  day 
before  capturing  some  prisoners,  among  them  an 
Englishman,  who  came  back  saying  rather  ex- 
citedly that  he  was  forced  into  the  army,  which 
nobody  believed,  for  the  armies  of  the  enemy 
were  to  a  considerable  extent  made  up  of  for- 
eigners. It  was  often  remarked  by  our  men 
that  we  were  fighting  all  Yankeedom  and  the 
rest  of  mankind.  And  this  reminds  me  of  the 
story  told  by  a  Confederate  of  another  who  like 
himself  had  in  the  battle  of  the    third    day    at 


270  THE  STORY  OF 

Gettysburg  gone  over  the  enemy's  line  behind 
the  stone  fence,  reaching  a  point  almost  on  the 
crest  of  Cemetery  Ridge.  Seeing  the  mighty 
host  gathered  and  gathering  to  envelop  the  few 
rebels  left,  this  Confederate  cried  out,  "Do  we 
have  to  whip  the  world?"  Listening  for  a 
moment,  he  heard  a  Federal  officer  say:  "Atten- 
tion, World!  By  nations  right  wheel,  by  states, 
fire!"  He  concluded  it  was  time  for  that  poor 
Confederate  to  cut  dirt,  and  he  stood  not  on  the 
order  of  his  going. 

Let  it  be  remembered  that  we  were  now  en- 
gaged in  what  is  known  as  the  battle  of  Clay's 
House.  One  of  our  batteries  to  our  left  was  now 
throwing  shells  at  the  enemy  in  our  front,  en- 
deavoring to  enfilade  their  line,  during  which 
time  I  was  ordered  by  Colonel  Flowerree  to  go 
along  the  line  of  the  regiment  and  tell  the  com- 
pany commanders  to  get  their  men  ready  for 
the  assault.  I  had  proceeded  nearly  half  way 
when  a  misdirected  shell  from  the  battery  referred 
to  exploded  over  me,  a  large  fragment  grazing 
my  head,  burying  itself  at  my  feet.  Had  it 
struck  my  head,  there  would  have  been  one  less 
Sergeant-Major  in  the  Confederate  army,  and 
this  story  would  not  have  been  written.  A 
moment  later  I  saw  J.  B.  Young  of  D  Company 
fall  with  a  severe  wound  in  the  head.    In  a  few 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  271 

moments  the  charge  became  general,  and  the 
enemy's  intrenchments  were  carried.  General 
Lee  was  riding  close  in  the  rear  of  our  battle  line 
at  the  time  of  the  charge  referred  to,  and  meet- 
ing one  of  our  regiment  badly  wounded  and  be- 
ing carried  out  by  the  litter  bearers,  said  to  the 
wounded  man,  "I  hope,  my  good  fellow,  you  are 
not  badly  hurt." 

This  charge  was  the  subject  of  a  compli- 
mentary letter  from  General  Lee  to  General  An- 
derson, which  is  as  follows: 

"General,  I  take  great  pleasure  in  pre- 
senting to  you  my  congratulations  upon  the 
conduct  of  the  men  of  your  corps.  I  be- 
lieve that  they  will  carry  anything  they  are 
put  against.  We  tried  very  hard  to  stop 
Pickett's  men  from  capturing  the  breast- 
works of  the  enemy,  but  couldn't  do  it.  I 
hope  his  loss  has  been  small." 

This  reminds  me  to  say  here  and  now.  without 
intending  the  least  disparagement  of  others,  that 
the  7th  Virginia  regiment  was  never  ordered  to 
take  the  enemy's  line  that  it  did  not  take  it,  never 
gave  up  or  lost  a  position  it  was  ordered  to  hold, 
and  never  left  a  position  or  battlefield  unless  or- 
dered to  do  so.  Once  when  bodily  taken  by 
the  Federals  and  carried  into  captivity,  the  reader 


272  THE  STORY  OF 

might  consider  an  exception  to  the  statement  just 
made. 

The  charge  last  above  referred  to  was  not  with- 
out its  casualties,  though  I  have  nothing  to  show 
the  division,  brigade  or  regimental  losses.  In 
the  ist  Virginia  six  men  were  wounded,  and  I 
remember  that  Sergeant  William  Parrott  of 
Company  I  and  J.  B.  Young  of  Company  D  were 
severely  and  Private  William  Davis  of  Company 
C  mortally  wounded. 

During  the  remainder  of  June  and  for  several 
months  following  we  remained  on  this  Bermuda 
Hundred  line,  occasionally  shifting  position  from 
Howlett  House  on  the  James  to  Swift  Creek  near 
the  Appomattox,  until  about  the  middle  of  July, 
then  settling  down  on  a  high  piece  of  ground  be- 
hind a  skirt  of  timber  midway  between  Howlett 
House  and  Swift  Creek.  Here  we  worked  hard 
to  strengthen  our  lines. 

Company  D  now  had  but  a  single  commissioned 
officer,  Captain  Bane.  Lieutenant  Stone  was  still 
a  prisoner,  Lieutenant  Walker  had  been  disabled 
at  Gettysburg  and  retired,  and  Lieutenant  Mul- 
lins  had  died  of  the  wound  received  at  Howlett 
House  in  June.  It  was  on  this  line  that  Sergeant 
T.  S.  Taylor  was  elected  a  lieutenant  and  E.  Z. 
Yager  made  orderly  sergeant  of  the  company. 


Rev.  J.  Tyler  Frazier 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  273 

These  selections  were  well  made,  and  the  con- 
fidence reposed  not  misplaced. 

At  or  near  this  time  there  appeared  on  our 
lines  a  man  representing  himself  to  be  a  citizen 
of  Alabama,  who  proposed  then  to  do  what  could 
not  be  done,  but  in  some  degree  has  since  been 
accomplished — to  build  a  machine  to  navigate 
the  air,  carry  shells  and  drop  them  on  the  North- 
ern armies,  and  in  their  cities.  He  requested 
donations  from  each  of  the  soldiers  of  one  dollar, 
and  of  the  officers  five  dollars  each  to  enable  him 
to  build  his  machine.  We  concluded  he  was  a 
crank,  refused  to  contribute  and  the  man  de- 
parted. This  fellow  was  only  a  little  ahead  of 
his  time. 

At  an  early  hour  of  July  30th  occurred  the 
famous  explosion  of  the  mine  at  Petersburg. 
Though  several  miles  away,  it  so  shook  the  earth 
that  the  pickets  and  other  men  awake  at  the  time 
felt  the  shock.  The  fearful  artillery  fire  which 
followed  convinced  us  that  an  important  event 
had  occurred.  Later  in  the  day  we  learned  what 
had  happened,  seeing  also  a  full  account  of  the 
occurrence  in  the  Richmond  papers  the  next 
morning.  I  well  remember  the  comments  in  the 
Richmond  Examiner  (a  partisan  paper)  on  the 
retaking  of  the  line  by  the  division  of  General 
Mahone.     Describing  the  slaughter  of  the  Fed- 

18 


274  THE  STORY  OF 

eral  soldiers  in  the  crater,  it  said :  "The  slaughter 
was  so  great  that  General  Mahone  sickened  at 
the  sight  and  told  his  men  'for  God's  sake  to 
stop,'  and  the  next  time  we  hope  General  Mahone 
will  shut  his  eyes."  The  official  report  of  Gen- 
eral Mahone  of  the  retaking  of  the  line  and  the 
crater  was  not  furnished  by  him  to  his  superior 
officer,  but  was  found  by  his  family  among  his 
papers  after  his  death,  and  published  a  few  years 
ago.  An  incident  related  by  the  General  in  his 
report  is  worth  reproducing  here.  The  General 
states  that  his  division  was  on  the  Confederate 
right  and  a  mile  or  more  from  where  the  ex- 
plosion took  place;  that  the  same  was  not  unex- 
pected, but  just  when  and  where  it  would  occur 
no  one  could  certainly  tell;  that  on  that  morn- 
ing he  was  lying  on  the  ground,  and  on  hearing 
the  noise  sprang  to  his  feet,  looking  in  every  di- 
rection to  locate  from  whence  the  sound  came, 
when  he  discovered  a  Confederate  soldier  at  full 
speed  coming  towards  him.  The  men  along  the 
line  were  endeavoring  to  stop  him,  but  without 
success,  so  seeing  the  man  was  following  a  path 
which  led  near  by  where  the  General  was  stand- 
ing, he  planted  himself  in  the  path  of  the  fellow, 
who  was  without  hat,  cap,  shoes  or  coat,  and  said : 
"Now  stop  long  enough  to  tell  me  what  has  hap- 
pened."    "Why,  Mister,"  said  the  soldier,  "don't 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  275 

you  know  that  hell  has  busted?"  Evidently  this 
man  thought  the  infernal  regions  had  accidentally 
exploded. 

Between  the  lines  of  the  two  armies  as  now 
situated  lay  a  strip  of  woods,  where  our  men  and 
the  Union  soldiers  were  in  the  habit  of  meeting 
to  exchange  newspapers,  coffee  and  tobacco,  now 
and  then  playing  cards.  Our  officers  on  finding 
out  what  was  going  on  concluded  there  was  too 
much  familiarity  and  sought  to  break  it  up;  so 
when  one  of  the  officers  located  some  of  the  men 
engaged  in  a  game  of  cards  with  a  Union  soldier, 
this  Federal  was  made  a  prisoner  and  brought  into 
our  lines.  The  Union  soldier  was  highly  indig- 
nant at  what  he  considered  taking  advantage  of 
confidence,  for  both  parties  by  their  acts  had 
waived  the  fact  that  they  were  in  the  field  as 
deadly  foes  to  each  other,  and  in  their  hearts  our 
own  men  had  a  feeling  of  the  same  sort.  A  little 
later  one  of  the  Union  soldiers,  thinking  to  get 
even,  induced  a  Confederate  to  meet  him  between 
the  lines  on  pretense  of  exchanging  papers,  when 
he  attempted  his  capture,  but  in  the  scramble  the 
Confederate  proved  too  much  for  his  captor, 
dragging  him  toward  our  lines,  when  the  Union 
pickets  began  firing  at  the  Confederate,  who  let 
his  man  go  and  escaped.     These  incidents  put  a 


276  THE  STORY  OF 

stop  for  the  time  being  to  communication  and 
traffic  between  the  opposing  soldiers. 

At  another  time  some  of  our  men  under  the 
lead  of  an  officer,  about  daybreak  crept  over  to 
the  Federal  skirmish  line  and  between  the  men 
in  their  rifle  pits,  taking  the  line  in  flank  and  re- 
verse, and  raked  it  for  a  long  distance,  bringing 
out  more  than  a  hundred  prisoners,  including  the 
commanding  officer  of  the  line. 

How  tender  the  fellow  feeling  of  one  soldier  for 
another,  though  on  opposite  sides,  is  shown  by 
the  following  incident :  The  Union  soldiers,  well 
knowing  that  we  were  scarce  of  food,  at  dusk  one 
day  called  to  one  of  our  men,  "Say,  Johnnie,  are 
you  hungry?"  "Yes."  replied  the  Confederate, 
"have  had  but  little  to  eat  for  two  or  three  days." 
to  which  the  Union  soldier  said,  "Bring  your 
haversack  over  here  and  I  will  take  you  to  the 
sutler  and  fill  it,"  but  the  Confederate  demurred, 
giving  as  his  reason  that  he  was  afraid  he  would 
be  captured.  Being  assured,  however,  upon  the 
honor  of  a  soldier  that  he  should  have  a  safe  re- 
turn, he  went,  and  the  Union  soldier  filled  his 
haversack  and  returned  him  safely  to  our  lines. 

The  enemy  was  reported  shifting  about  in  our 
front  beyond  and  behind  the  timber,  where  we 
could  not  see  him,  and  supposing  he  might  be 
preparing  for  an  attack  upon  us,  by  order  of  the 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  277 

Colonel,  with  Pitts  of  Company  C  and  Crawford 
of  Company  D,  I  went  to  the  front,  outside  our 
pickets,  where  I  ran  upon  a  scouting  or  observa- 
tion party  of  the  enemy,  by  whom  we  were  fired 
on,  and  came  near  being  gobbled  up,  but  escaped 
and  returned  within  our  lines.  We  had  a  close 
call. 

Wishing  to  visit  some  friends  in  Captain 
David  A.  French's  artillery  company,  then  sta- 
tioned near  Chaffin's  Bluff  north  of  the  James, 
three  miles  away,  I  obtained  a  pass  and  put  off 
on  September  28,  spending  the  night  with 
friends,  finding  myself  the  next  morning  almost 
in  a  hornet's  nest,  for  on  the  morning  of  the  29th 
the  Federal  troops  advanced  and  captured  Fort 
Harrison,  a  mile  to  the  front  of  the  camp  of 
French's  company.  I  followed  the  battery,  wit- 
nessing the  fight,  in  which  the  Federals  advanc- 
ing from  Fort  Harrison  were  repulsed.  French 
lost  several  men,  among  them  Adam  Johnston, 
killed.  I  did  not  tarry  long,  but  set  out  for  my 
command,  meeting  on  the  way  a  part  of  our 
division,  the  24th  Virginia  regiment  among  them, 
on  their  way  to  reinforce  our  troops  in  front  of 
Fort  Harrison,  where  they  were  defeated  in  the 
attempt  to  recapture  the  fort. 

As  already  stated,  the  line  from  the  Howlett 
House  to  Swift  Creek,  some  three  miles  in  length, 


278  THE  STORY  OF 

was  held  by  Pickett's  division,  four  thousand 
strong;  the  skirmish  line  or  rifle  pits  of  the  op- 
posing forces  were  close  together,  say  30  yards 
apart,  and  the  main  lines  but  a  few  hundred  yards 
away.  Our  line  was  so  thin  and  so  drawn  out 
that  when  thrown  into  the  trenches  it  made 
scarcely  more  than  a  strong  skirmish  line.  We 
were  frequently  in  the  trenches  expecting  attack, 
and  the  morning  following  the  battle  of  Win- 
chester we  were  sure  the  enemy  was  coming,  but 
he  was  content  with  firing  a  shotted  salute.  At 
this  time  desertions  from  our  ranks,  as  well  as 
from  the  ranks  of  the  enemy,  became  more  fre- 
quent and  punishment  more  sure.  Numbers  of 
the  enemy  came  into  our  lines  and  were  sent  to 
the  rear  and  the  same  course  was  pursued  by  the 
enemy  with  men  deserting  from  us.  Now  and 
then  a  man  instead  of  going  over  to  the  enemy 
would  go  home  and  hide  and  when  caught  would 
be  tried  and  shot.  This  happened  to  a  mere  boy, 
a  member  of  Company  B  of  our  regiment,  who 
was  executed  October  18,  1864.  At  this  dis- 
tance from  the  war,  a  half  century,  such  a  thing 
may  shock  the  reader,  but  war  at  best  is  a  horri- 
ble thing  and  discipline  must  be  enforced.  It 
was  not  strange  that  some  men  deserted  and 
went  home.  Many  had  families  dependent  on 
them  for  food  and  support.     The  soldier's  pay 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  279 

for  a  month,  in  Confederate  currency,  with  the 
necessaries  of  life  advanced  to  enormous  figures, 
would  not  buy  a  half  bushel  of  wheat  for  his 
family.  The  cry  of  his  children  for  bread 
reached  his  ears  and  this  was  more  than  his  heart 
could  bear.  He  became  dissatisfied — anxious  for 
the  suffering  ones  at  home.  He  was  willing  to 
bare  his  breast  to  the  storm,  and  undergo  the 
hardships  and  privations  of  camp  life  and  the 
dangers  of  the  battlefield,  if  he  knew  his  wife  and 
children  were  kept  from  starving,  but  their  ap- 
peals for  food  moved  him;  he  would  obtain  leave 
to  go  if  he  could,  otherwise  he  would  go  without 
leave;  but  it  will  be  seen  if  this  were  permitted 
the  army  would  soon  be  depleted,  and  the  cause 
we  were  fighting  for  lost.  The  dilemma  was 
therefore  a  trying  one  to  many  a  good  man. 

The  Colonel  of  the  7th  regiment,  having  in- 
structions to  capture  a  prisoner  to  obtain  cer- 
tain information  wanted,  and  going  to  the  skirm- 
ish line,  where  Company  D  under  Captain  Bane 
was  on  picket,  instructed  him  to  secure  such  pris- 
oner. Bane  called  for  volunteers  for  this  enter- 
prise and  three  men  responded,  among  them  John 
W.  East,  who  agreed  to  capture  the  prisoner  by 
playing  the  role  of  deserter,  which  he  did  by  go- 
ing over  to  the  enemy.  The  Federal  picket  called 
our  men  up  next  morning  and  told  them  East  had 


280  THE  STORY  OF 

deserted  the  night  before.  This  was  no  less  than 
a  ruse  on  John's  part  to  desert  and  go  over  to 
the  side  of  the  enemy. 

Among  the  inducements  offered  by  the  Fed- 
eral officers  to  our  men  to  desert  was  that  if  their 
homes  were  within  the  Federal  lines  they  should 
be  sent  home  and  protected  or  given  government 
employment  at  good  wages,  but  love  of  cause  and 
country  were  more  potent  than  all  the  induce- 
ments offered  on  the  other  side. 

A.  L.  Sumner,  of  Company  D,  an  illiterate 
man,  heard  someone  read  from  a  Richmond  paper 
one  morning  in  November,  1864,  that  Mr.  Lin- 
coln had  been  re-elected  president  of  the  United 
States,  and  had  called  for  a  large  number  of  ad- 
ditional men.  Sumner  sat  with  his  head  bowed, 
when  a  comrade  approaching  and  seeing  that 
something  was  troubling  him,  inquired  the  cause. 
Sumner  responded,  "Don't  you  know  that  Abe 
Lincoln  is  re-elected  and  has  called  for  a  million 
men,  and  that  Jeff  Davis  says  war  to  the  knife? 
What  shall  we  do?" — A  pertinent  inquiry. 

Christmas,  1864,  was  approaching  and  exten- 
sive preparations  were  being  made  by  city,  town 
and  country  to  furnish  the  army  of  Northern 
Virginia  a  Christmas  dinner,  the  women  taking 
the  lead — God  bless  them !  The  newspapers  urged 
the  movement  forward,  committees  were  ap- 
pointed to  collect  and  forward  the  good  things  to 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  281 

the  soldiers.  The  papers  proclaimed  that  Virginia, 
devastated  as  she  was  by  an  invading-  host,  was 
yet  able  to  feed  her  soldiers;  that  the  cattle  upon 
a  thousand  hills  were  hers.  Though  the  cattle 
were  not  there,  the  day  came,  and  with  it  a  boun- 
tiful supply  which  made  us  glad,  and  we  thanked 
our  benefactors  and  took  courage. 

The  credit  for  our  Christmas  dinner  was  due 
the  women.  In  every  movement  for  the  uplift 
and  betterment  of  our  race,  and  in  every  worthy 
cause,  woman  is  the  first  to  espouse,  the  last  to 
forsake.  Having  once  fixed  her  affections  upon 
the  object  of  our  cause,  her  love  therefor  became 
as  fast  and  enduring  as  the  rock-ribbed  hills.  The 
wives,  mothers  and  sisters  of  the  men  gave  their 
husbands,  sons  and  brothers  to  the  cause,  suf- 
fered untold  agony  and  sorrows,  depriving  them- 
selves of  every  comfort,  to  the  end  that  the 
soldiers  in  the  field  might  be  clothed  and  fed.  For 
them  no  sacrifice  was  too  great.  The  Southern 
woman,  accustomed  to  the  indulgences  and  re- 
finements of  life,  became  familiar  with  the  coars- 
est of  personal  apparel,  and  a  scarcity  of  food 
which  she  had  never  known,  and  she  bore  these 
things  without  a  murmur.  She  followed  the 
plow,  reaped  the  grain,  took  it  to  the  mill,  nursed 
the  sick  and  wounded,  buried  the  dead,  and 
rendered  thousands  of  kindnesses  to  our  suffer- 


282  THE  STORY  OF 

ing  soldiers,  only  recorded  in  the  hearts  and 
memories  of  the  recipients  of  these  loving  deeds, 
and  of  Him  whose  eye  is  never  shut.  In  the  days 
of  "reconstruction,"  when  men  were  awe  stricken, 
not  knowing  whither  to  look  or  what  to  do,  these 
women  stood  with  resolute  trust  in  God,  giving 
words  of  encouragement  to  the  sterner  sex;  and 
became,  as  it  were,  the  strong  vine  entwined 
around  the  sturdy  tree  when  shaken  by  the  storm. 
These  Southern  women  were  the  only  portion 
of  our  people  who  never  surrendered.  They  are 
today  the  purest  type  of  Anglo-Saxon  woman- 
hood on  the  face  of  the  earth. 

Memorial  Day  originated  with  our  Southern 
women,  whose  custom  it  is  to  strew  flowers, 
mementoes  of  their  undying  love,  on  the  graves 
of  the  gray  and  the  blue  alike.  They  are  the 
guardians  of  the  graves  of  our  noble  dead. 

"This  place  of  burial  is 

Hallowed  by  woman's  prayers; 

A  nobler  epitaph  than  this 
Could  not  be  theirs." 

Things  now  began  to  look  dark.  General 
Sherman  was  marching  through  Georgia  to  the 
sea;  Hood's  army  had  been  defeated  at  Nash- 
ville. The  situation  was  grave  in  the  extreme. 
With  all  this  came  strange  presentiments.     The 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  283 

dark  clouds  that  had  been  for  some  time  over- 
hanging us  were  settling  down.  The  patriotism, 
enthusiasm  and  untold  sacrifices  of  the  past  four 
years  seemed  all  for  naught,  and  our  men  could 
not  be  required  to  shoulder  a  heavier  cross  than 
was  now  the  lot  of  the  Confederate  soldiers.  But 
a  patriotic  people  and  a  valiant  soldiery  might  yet 
accomplish  success,  looking  we  were,  but  in  vain, 
for  foreign  intervention,  or  something  else  to 
turn  up.  If  to  satisfy  the  Northern  people  and 
gain  our  separate  existence  meant  to  give  up 
slavery,  the  army  was  ready  to  see  it  abolished. 
In  fact,  the  gTeat  bulk  of  the  army  was  ready  to 
make  almost  any  sacrifice  required  for  indepen- 
dent and  separate  government.  Our  forefathers 
had  resisted  British  tyranny,  we  were  resisting 
Northern  aggression  upon  the  sovereignty  and 
reserved  rights  of  the  States  of  the  Confederacy. 

Dark  and  discouraging  as  were  these  days,  the 
spirit  of  the  army  was  yet  unbroken,  and  the 
men  were  willing  to  fight  it  out,  although  it  ap- 
peared but  a  question  of  time  when  we  should  all 
go  down. 

Thus  closed  the  year  of  1864,  and  to  us  it 
seemed  final  overthrow  must  come,  for  our  foe 
was  growing  stronger,  we  weaker.  Our  star  was 
surely  on  the  wane. 


Chapter  XXIV 


Religion  in  the  Army. 

Doctors  Pryor,  Fontaine,  Stiles. 

General  Pendleton. 

Young-  Men's  Christian  Association. 

Frazier,  Our  Preaching-Fighting  Chaplain. 


MY  PRESENTATION  of  the  subject  of 
religion  in  the  army  will  necessarily  be 
confined  to  the  command  to  which  I  be- 
longed and  what  came  under  my  personal  ob- 
servation. When  the  call  to  arms  was  made  in 
1 86 1,  the  sentiment  of  our  people  was  a  solemn 
appeal  to  God  for  the  rectitude  of  our  intentions 
and  purposes,  an  appeal  to  the  God  of  battles  for 
His  abiding  presence  and  blessing  upon  our  un- 
dertaking. Nearly  every  step  taken  was  witnessed 
by  religious  services.  Our  whole  Southland  was 
permeated  with  the  spirit  and  teachings  of  the 
Bible.  The  brave  people  of  our  land  believed  in 
God — indeed,  the  foundations  of  their  state  gov- 
ernment were  based  upon  their  faith  in  the  Author 
of  their  lives  and  liberty.  This  was  no  mere 
phantom.  Most  of  our  great  leaders  were 
Christian  men,  who  feared  and  worshipped  God. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  war  we  had  many 
wild,  profane  men  who  had  joined  the  army,  but 
from  this  it  must  not  be  inferred  that  our  camps 
were  scenes  of  vulgarity,  and  profanity.  With 
but  few  exceptions,  after  the  first  year  or  so  of 
the  war,  there  was  never  an  army  freer  from 
vice,  immorality  and  anger.  That  which  in  the 
beginning  would  have  been  offensive  and  insult- 


288  THE  STORY  OF 

ing,  and  probably  brought  the  parties  to  blows, 
was  now  passed  by.  The  men  had  come  to  un- 
derstand each  other's  temperaments.  They  had 
lived,  associated,  marched,  fought,  slept  and 
eaten  together  too  long,  had  suffered  in  common 
too  many  hardships,  enduring  the  same  priva- 
tions, not  to  know  each  other's  Christian  convic- 
tions. They  were  therefore  "Souls  that  had  but 
a  single  thought,  and  hearts  that  beat  as  one." 
They  were,  with  a  true  Christian  spirit,  ready  to 
bear  each  other's  burdens,  care  for  each  other 
when  sick  or  wounded,  comfort  each  other  when 
in  trouble  and  distress,  and  therefore  the  better 
prepared  to  entertain  the  "King  of  Peace." 

Many  of  the  men  of  my  company,  some  of 
whom  I  have  already  mentioned,  were  Christians 
when  they  entered  the  army,  and  by  their  ex- 
ample and  character  exerted  a  wholesome  in- 
fluence for  good.  When  resting  in  camp,  these 
men  remembered  their  vows,  conducting  religious 
exercises  in  their  quarters  before  retiring  at  night. 
On  Sunday  we  usually  had  services,  led  by  the 
Chaplains,  who  were  zealous  Christians,  and 
patriotic  men,  even  going  into  battle  with  us. 
One,  Dr.  Granberry,  chaplain  of  the  nth  Vir- 
ginia, and  after  the  war  a  Methodist  Bishop,  was 
wounded  in  the  battle  of  Seven  Pines.     In  the 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  289 

absence  of  the  regular  chaplain,  Brother  Frazier, 
acting  as  such,  preached  to  us. 

Near  the  close  of  1862,  and  throughout  the 
greater  part  of  the  year  of  1863,  a  religious  spirit 
seemed  to  possess  the  army ;  at  least  this  was  true 
of  our  command.  Christians  had  g^reat  reason  to 
thank  God  and  take  courage  when  they  thought 
on  the  remarkable  progress  the  gospel  was  mak- 
ing in  the  camp.  Thousands  of  young  men  em- 
braced religion.  While  churches  at  home  were 
languishing,  the  gospel  was  moving  forward 
with  marvelous  strides  among  the  soldiers  in  the 
field.  Indeed,  what  could  be  more  fitting,  with 
real  men  accustomed  daily  to  witnessing  carnage 
and  death.  There  was  therefore  much  comfort 
to  the  men  in  having  the  gospel  successfully 
preached  and  the  standard  of  the  Master  borne 
aloft  in  the  trenches,  in  sight  of  the  enemy,  even 
within  musket  and  cannon's  range.  At  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  baptismal  ordinance,  the 
banks  of  the  Rappahannock,  Rapidan  and  the 
James  and  other  streams  resounded  with  the  songs 
of  praise.  Our  chaplains  often  proclaimed  the 
glad  tidings  amid  the  noise  of  the  booming  cannon 
and  rattle  of  musketry.  This  spirit  was  caught 
by  our  division  at  Taylorsville  in  the  spring  of 
1863,  when  Dr.  Pryor  of  Petersburg  preached 
for  us  for  several  davs  in  succession,  hundreds 


290  THE  STORY  OF 

professing  faith  in  Christ.  The  whole  camp  was 
one  religious  gathering,  and  all  men  seemed 
greatly  interested.  There  was  a  grand  and  glori- 
ous awakening.  Many  in  the  Spring  of  1863 
found  the  blessed  Savior  precious  to  their  souls 
and  rejoiced  in  His  love,  I  among  the  number. 

When  on  the  march  to  Gettysburg,  halting  for 
a  day  or  more,  religious  exercises  were  con- 
ducted; scarcely  would  the  column  halt  at  night 
and  supper  over  before  the  sacred  songs  began; 
around  those  singing  would  gather  the  soldiers 
in  large  numbers,  the  chaplain,  or  someone  else, 
conducting  the  exercises.  This  was  continued 
during  the  fall  of  1863.  in  Culpeper,  on  the 
Rapidan,  again  at  Taylorsville,  in  North  Car- 
olina, in  Virginia,  near  Hanover  Junction,  around 
Cold  Harbor,  Malvern  Hill,  and  on  the  south  of 
the  James,  where  Drs.  Stiles  and  Fontaine  were 
occasionally  with  us.  The  latter,  Rev.  P.  H.  Fon- 
taine, a  minister  of  the  Baptist  Church,  visited 
us  in  September,  1864,  preaching  successfully  for 
several  days;  many  desiring  baptism  going  to  a 
small  branch  close  by  our  line  in  a  ravine,  where 
a  dam  was  constructed,  furnishing  sufficient 
water  to  bury  a  man  in  baptism,  as  was  our 
Savior  in  the  Jordan,  a  comforting  scene  to  many 
wearied  and  homesick  hearts.  On  Monday, 
September   12,    1864,   Mr.   Fontaine  baptized  a 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  291 

large  number  of  soldiers  on  their  profession  of 
faith — how  many  I  do  not  recollect,  but  of  our 
company  two,  Tim  P.  Darr  and  the  writer.  Darr 
became  a  Methodist  preacher,  dying  last  year 
(1913)  in  the  State  of  Kentucky. 

The  army  of  Northern  Virginia  by  the  close  of 
the  year  1864  had  in  large  measure  become  a  band 
of  Christian  soldiers,  God-fearing  men.  Amid 
the  trying  scenes,  shoeless,  in  tattered  rags,  hun- 
gry, chilled  by  the  cold,  they  gathered,  if  oppor- 
tunity offered,  and  on  bended  knees  asked  Go-d  to 
comfort  their  homes  and  little  ones,  to  bless  our 
arms  with  success  and  to  crown  our  efforts  with 
early  peace  and  stable  government. 

The  venerable  Doctor  Stiles  and  General  Pen- 
dleton— the  latter  an  Episcopal  minister  and  the 
chief  of  artillery  of  the  army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia— occasionally  preached  to  the  troops. 
Through  the  instrumentality  of  J.  Tyler  Frazier 
there  was  organized  a  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association,  of  Kemper's  brigade,  into  which  was 
largely  incorporated  all  the  professing  Christians 
in  the  brigade.  It  met  regularly  when  not  on  the 
march,  and  among  the  articles  of  the  constitution 
was  one  providing  that  if  any  member  of  the 
Association  should  desert  or  absent  himself  from 
his  command  without  leave,  he  should  be  ex- 
cluded.    The  Association  stood  pledged  to  dis- 


292  THE  STORY  OF 

courage  desertions  or  insubordination,  and  on 
the  other  hand  to  encourage  obedience  and 
fidelity  to  cause  and  country;  by  all  means  within 
its  power  to  diffuse  religious  thought  and  morality 
throughout  the  brigade.  While  on  the  Bermuda 
Hundred  line,  the  men  built  a  church  in  which 
religious  services  were  held,  and  which  was  also 
used  as  a  place  of  entertainment. 

J.  Tyler  Frazier,  whose  name  has  been  fre- 
quently mentioned  in  this  narrative,  deserves  a 
more  extended  notice.  Mr.  Frazier  was  born  in 
Giles  County,  Virginia,  in  the  year  1840,  embrac- 
ing Christianity  at  an  early  age.  His  early  op- 
portunities for  acquiring  an  education  were  quite 
limited,  but  being  a  man  of  exceptionally  good 
sense,  a  preacher  when  he  entered  the  army — 
the  company  chaplain,  did  his  duty  nobly  and 
well.  By  precept  and  example  upon  all  proper 
occasions  he  endeavored  to  impress  upon  the  men 
the  importance  of  living  a  Christian  life.  Notice 
has  already  been  taken  of  some  of  his  messmates, 
Taylor,  Henderson,  Fortner,  Darr  and  others, 
God-fearing  men.  Mr.  Frazier  preached  when- 
ever opportunity  offered,  not  only  to  the  com- 
pany, regiment  and  brigade,  but  to  the  people  of 
the  region  roundabout.  The  chaplaincy  of  the 
regiment  being  vacant,  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association    desired    the    appointment    of    Mr. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  293 

Frazier  to  the  vacancy,  naming  a  committee  con- 
sisting of  Thomas  S.  Taylor  (who  died  in  this 
year,  19 14),  Edward  Hoge  (now  dead),  and 
David  E.  Johnston,  to  take  up  the  matter  with 
the  Colonel,  but  our  mission  failed  because  the 
commander  felt  that  a  man  could  not  be  spared 
from  the  ranks  who  was  so  good  a  soldier  as 
Brother  Frazier.  We  secured,  however,  the  priv- 
ilege for  Mr.  Frazier  to  preach  where  and  when 
he  pleased,  having  his  musket  and  accouterments 
transported  in  headquarters  wagon,  the  only  re- 
quirement being  demanded  that  he  should  take  his 
gun  and  go  into  battle.  Mr.  Frazier  was  as  use- 
ful as  chaplain  without  a  commission  as  with  it, 
for  he  still  continued  to  preach,  pray,  march  and 
fight,  to  exhort  and  encourage  men  to  do  their 
duty  to  God  and  their  country.  He  was  spared 
and  returned  home,  entered  the  regular  Meth- 
odist ministry  of  the  Southern  Methodist  Church, 
has  been  a  presiding  elder,  a  successful  preacher, 
and  still  lives  to  bless  humanity.  He  now  re- 
sides on  his  fine  estate  near  Chilhowie,  Virginia. 
preaching  regularly,  esteemed  and  highly  re- 
spected by  his  brethren,  old  comrades,  friends  and 
neighbors. 

In  closing  this  chapter,  I  may  be  permitted 
with  genuineness  of  purpose  to  add  a  final  word 
to  the  sons  and  daughters,   descendants  of  the 


294  THE  STORY  OF 

noble  Confederate  soldiers  of  Virginia,  whom  I 
deeply  loved,  and  of  whom  I  have  endeavored, 
though  with  much  imperfection,  to  write  in 
these  pages. 

Another  warfare  is  today  calling  you  to  the 
field.  I  have  seen  much  of  life  and  know  the 
fruits  of  vice  and  shame,  the  danger  of  gilded 
pitfalls  and  deceptive  traps  which  are  set  for  you 
and  your  children.  I  beg  of  you  not  to  think  of 
this  as  idle  talk  on  my  part.  You  are  in  im- 
minent danger  of  the  captivity  from  which  there 
is  no  return.  For  your  safety  the  Great  Leader 
is  calling  you  to  join  His  forces,  to  enlist  in  His 
cause.  This  Leader  has  never  known  defeat,  has 
never  lost  a  soldier.  If  you  are  in  His  service, 
your  name  is  enrolled  on  high.  If  you  are  faith- 
ful, you  will  not  be  overlooked  nor  forgotten. 
If  you  have  not  given  Him  your  life  and  every- 
thing belonging  to  you,  I  beg  you  not  to  delay. 
Your  father  obeyed  our  country's  call  in  1861. 
It  is  fitting  now  that  you  obey  the  gospel  call  into 
the  noblest  army  earth  has  ever  known.  More 
than  once  did  I  look  into  the  faces  of  your  noble 
sires,  as  they  stood  at  Sharpsburg,  Gettysburg 
and  Cold  Harbor,  in  defense  of  the  right.  I 
think  of  the  courage  with  which  they  followed  the 
old  flag,  and  I  love  you  for  their  sakes.  I  pray 
God  that  each  of  you  may  honor  the  memory  of 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  295 

those  fathers  by  being  brave  and  steadfast  soldiers 
of  the  Cross ;  that  you  may  have  a  place  in  the 
ranks  of  that  great  army  composed  of  the  pure 
and  the  good  on  earth  and  in  heaven. 


Chapter  XXV 


From  January,  1865,  to  Close  of  Battle  of  Five 
Forks. 

Gloomy  Outlook  at  the  Opening  of  the  Year. 

The  Peace  Commissioners. 

Spirit  of  the  Army. 

A.  S.  Fry  as  Regimental  Clerk  and  Historian. 

Trouble  in  Company  D. 

Activity  Within  the  Federal  Lines. 

General  Pendleton's  Speech. 

Early's  Small  Force  Defeated  at  Waynesboro. 

Sheridan's  Raid. 


WHILE  near  Swift  Creek,  A.  L.  Fry  of 
Company  D  was  appointed  clerk  and 
regimental  historian,  making  a  complete 
roll  of  the  men  of  the  regiment,  noting  their  serv- 
ices, for  which  he  received  a  short  furlough.  The 
record  made  by  Fry  was  filed  away  in  Richmond, 
but  unfortunately  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  the 
evacuation  of  the  city  by  the  Confederate  troops. 
This  was  indeed  a  calamity,  for  such  a  record 
would  now,  after  half  a  century,  be  of  priceless 
value.  The  record  of  many  a  poor  fellow  which 
was  thus  lost  cannot  be  had  anywhere  else. 

We  changed  position  from  near  Swift  Creek 
to  the  Howlett  House  on  the  James  in  January, 
1865,  where  we  erected  rude  shacks  of  timber 
and  earth  which  furnished  slight  shelter  from 
the  pelting  storms.  Near  the  middle  of  the 
month  the  weather  softened,  and  we  were  en- 
abled to  get  out  and  engage  in  ball  and  other 
games,  which  gave  us  exercise  and  good  appetites, 
though  ordinarily  we  were  ready  to  eat  anything 
we  could  get,  for  at  that  time  our  daily  allow- 
ance was  one-fourth  pound  of  bacon  and  one  pint 
of  coarse  cornmeal,  with  occasionally  a  little 
sugar,  rice,  beans  or  peas. 

The  period  was  still  gloomy.    Fort  McAllister 


300  THE  STORY  OF 

had  fallen,  Savannah  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
enemy,  Charleston  and  Fort  Fisher  seriously 
threatened;  Hood's  army  had'  been  wrecked  and 
driven  out  of  Tennessee;  General  Sherman  was 
preparing  to  march  through  the  Carolinas.  Gen- 
eral Grant  had  seized  the  Petersburg  and  Weldon 
railroad  and  was  now  threatening  to  strike  the 
south  side  and  Richmond  and  Danville  road — the 
latter  being  the  only  remaining  line  connecting 
Richmond  with  the  Southern  states,  over  which 
our  supplies  must  be  drawn.  The  situation  was 
therefore  serious.  This  was  fully  realized  by 
the  men  in  the  ranks.  Vastly  superior  territory, 
unlimited  supplies,  and  a  call  for  300,000  new 
troops  in  the  North  were  calculated  to  produce 
discouragement  in  the  hearts  of  men  who  had 
from  the  first  been  fighting  against  heavy  odds. 
Desertions  became  more  frequent;  many  men 
were  absent  without  leave,  on  account  of  needy 
families  and  other  causes,  and  were  in  no  hurry 
to  return.  All  these  things  were  discussed  by 
the  soldiers  in  their  huts.  The  army  of  North- 
ern Virginia  now  consisted  of  less  than  fifty 
thousand  poorly  equipped,  poorly  clad,  poorly  fed 
men,  who  had  marched  and  countermarched, 
charged  and  fought  a  foe  two  or  three  times  their 
number  for  nearly  four  long,  dreadful  years.  It 
was  little  wonder,  therefore,  that  depression  came 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  301 

to  the  noble  army  of  Northern  Virginia,  which 
then  held  the  toe  line  from  a  point  north  of  Fort 
Harrison  to  the  vicinity  of  Hatcher's  Run  to  the 
south,  more  than  thirty-five  miles — in  many 
places  little  more  than  a  good  skirmish  line,  which 
the  enemy  was  able  to  confront  with  full  lines, 
and  yet  overreaching-  our  flanks,  and  was  con- 
tinuing to  extend  his  lines.  Why  General  Grant 
did  not  cut  loose  from  his  base  at  City  Point  and 
swing  around  the  Confederate  right,  shutting  the 
army  up  in  Petersburg  and  Richmond,  is  a  mili- 
tary problem  I  will  not  endeavor  to  solve. 

I  was  in  Richmond  in  January,  1865,  and  saw 
bread  selling  at  $2.00  for  a  small  loaf;  a  pound 
of  soda  for  $12.00;  a  calico  dress  pattern,  $25.00, 
a  gold  dollar  commanding  $60.00  in  Confederate 
currency. 

The  mission  of  the  Confederate  "Peace  Com- 
missioners" had  been  a  failure,  and  a  great  dis- 
appointment to  the  soldiers,  who  saw  plainly 
nothing  short  of  a  bitter  fight  to  the  end.  Public 
meetings  of  the  men  were  held  in  many  of  the 
commands  in  the  army,  resolutions  adopted,  ex- 
pressing regret  at  the  failure  of  the  Peace  Con- 
ference, reaffirming  their  faith  in  the  justness  of 
our  cause,  and  rededicating  themselves  to  the  de- 
fense thereof,  resolving  to  fight  to  the  end.  Surely 
heroism  and  desperation  equal  to  this  cannot  be 


302  THE  STORY  OF 

found  in  the  annals  of  history.  With  this  situa- 
tion confronting  them,  they  demanded  that  all 
absentees  should  be  returned  to  their  places,  all 
able  bodied  men  should  be  required  to  take  the 
field,  and  that  every  step  possible  should  be  taken 
to  strengthen  the  army,  even  to  the  arming  of 
the  negroes — a  thing  which  should  have  been 
done  long  before  this. 

In  order  to  give  some  conception  of  the  feel- 
ing and  sentiment  which  then  pervaded  the 
soldiers,  I  here  insert  an  extract  from  a  letter 
written  a  friend  in  February,  1865,  in  which  I 
say :  "There  is  nothing  left  us  but  to  fight  it  out ; 
the  cry  is  for  war — war  to  the  knife.  If  the  peo- 
ple at  home  will  support  the  army  and  drive  all 
skulkers  and  absentees  to  the  front,  all  will  be 
right." 

Amid  the  darkness  and  gloom  surrounding 
us,  some  of  the  men  would  have  fun.  I  well  re- 
member that  W.  D.  Peters,  of  D  Company,  a 
wit  and  wag,  having  around  him  several  of  his 
comrades,  inquired  as  to  how  the  Southern  Con- 
federacy was  bounded.  One  answered,  "North 
by  the  United  States,  south  by  the  Gulf  of  Mexico, 
east  by  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  west  by  the  Rocky 
Mountains."  Peters  insisted  this  to  be  a  mistake, 
saying  that  "we  were  surrounded  by  Yankees !" 

The  general   sentiment   in  the  army   favored 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  303 

freeing  all  negroes  who  would  take  arms  and 
fight  for  the  country.  To  this,  singularly  enough, 
came  opposition  from  men  who  did  not  and  never 
had  owned  a  slave.  The  proposition  to  arm  the 
negroes  did  not  find  favor  with  the  politicians, 
but  they  were  finally  forced  to  yield,  late  in  the 
Spring  of  1865,  on  the  eve  of  the  retreat  of  the 
army  of  Northern  Virginia  from  the  Richmond- 
Petersburg  lines. 

While  on  the  lines  near  Howlett  House,  a  squad 
went  out  between  the  skirmish  lines  to  gather 
fuel;  among  the  number  was  Adam  Thompson, 
who  had  so  large  a  foot  that  special  requisition 
had  to  be  made  to  get  shoes  big  enough  for  him ; 
the  shoes  for  Adam  had  to  be  made  to  order.  On 
the  occasion  referred  to,  Adam  deserted  to  the 
enemy,  when  a  Union  soldier  called  out,  "Jonn~ 
nie!  Have  you  another  man  over  there  three  feet 
across  the  back  and  who  wears  a  number  two 
shoe — two  hides  to  the  shoe?" 

I  here  relate  an  incident  happening  on  this  line 
while  at  the  Howlett  House,  which  caused  much 
grief,  growing  out,  as  I  believe,  of  misinforma- 
tion and  misunderstanding,  whereby  three  of  the 
best  soldiers  of  Company  D — A.  J.  Thompson, 
Harry  Snidow  and  J.  C.  Hughes — were  arrested 
upon  a  charge  of  encouraging  insubordination  and 
mutiny,    of    which    they    were    convicted     and 


304  THE  STORY  OF 

sentenced  to  be  shot,  and  pending  the  approval  of 
General  Lee  (which  was  never  had,  so  far  as  I 
know),  were  incarcerated  in  "Castle  Thunder" 
in  Richmond,  from  which  they  were  only  re- 
leased by  the  Union  army  on  entering-  the  city 
April  3,  1865.  In  the  opinion  of  the  writer,  who 
knew  these  three  men,  all  sergeants,  through  and 
through,  this  proceeding  was  excessive  and  un- 
warranted. Surely  three  long  years  of  untiring 
devotion  and  loyalty  to  the  cause  for  which  we 
fought  should  be  counted  worth  something. 

General  Pendleton,  the  chief  of  artillery  of  the 
army,  visited  our  lines  the  middle  of  March  and 
made  a  speech,  in  which  he  said,  "The  time  is 
rapidly  approaching  for  the  opening  of  the  cam- 
paign, and  that  man  Grant  over  there  means  mis- 
chief. Only  with  a  union  of  strong  arms  and 
brave  hearts  can  we  hope  to  win.  Pack  your 
haversacks  and  be  ready  to  move."  There  was 
now  great  activity  within  the  lines  of  the  enemy; 
the  whistle  of  the  locomotive,  the  inclination  and 
the  action  of  the  enemy  to  crowd  us,  all  pointed 
to  an  early  movement,  but  the  question  con- 
fronted us — What  are  we  to  do?  Can  we  get 
away  and  how  far?  Not  a  mule  nor  horse  that 
can  pull  a  hundred  pounds  five  miles  through 
the  mud.  It  was  suggested,  let  us  go  south  and 
join  General  Joe  Johnston,  unite  forces  with  him, 


Bripadier-General  David  E.  Johnston 
and  Aid-de-Camp  D.  E.  J.  Wilson 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  305 

whip  Grant  and  then  Sherman.  Some  said  one 
thing,  some  another,  but  all  agreed  that  if  Rich- 
mond had  to  be  given  up,  it  were  better  it  had 
been  abandoned  the  fall  before,  when  our  trans- 
portation was  in  better  shape  and  our  army 
numerically  stronger,  and  General  Grant's  not  in 
such  good  condition,  not  yet  having  recovered 
from  its  bloody  campaign  from  the  Rapidan  to 
Petersburg,  and  not  so  confident  as  now. 

In  March,  1865,  at  night,  our  division  was 
withdrawn  from  the  lines,  Mahone's  division  tak- 
ing our  place.  We  were  hurried  up  to  Richmond 
to  the  outer  intrenchments  north  of  the  city  to 
meet  the  Federal  General  Sheridan's  cavalry  corps 
of  10,000  men,  which  a  few  days  before  had  over- 
whelmed the  little  band  of  about  1500  men  of 
General  ILarly  in  the  valley  near  Waynesboro,  and 
were  now  rapidly  approaching  Richmond  by  way 
of  Charlottesville.  Near  Ashland  Corse's  brigade 
had  a  brisk  skirmish  with  Sheridan's  advance.  It 
was  apparent  that  General  Sheridan  had  no 
thought  of  attacking  Richmond  (he  was  never 
known  to  attack  unless  he  had  the  advantage)  but 
had  crossed  the  Chickahominy  and  was  making 
his  way  to  join  the  main  army  south  of  the  James. 


Chapter  XXVI 


South  of  the  James. 

Battles  of  Dinwiddie  and  Five  Forks. 

The  Retreat. 


WE  WERE  hastened  through  Richmond 
and  to  the  south  of  the  James,  marching 
to  the  South  Side  railroad  west  of 
Petersburg,  thence  on  to  Sutherland  Station, 
reaching  there  at  9  P.  M.,  Wednesday,  March  29, 
and  going  forward  through  an  all  night's  rain, 
arriving  at  the  White  Oak  road  at  dawn,  where 
a  portion  of  General  Bushrod  Johnson's  division 
was  in  line  of  battle,  with  a  brisk  skirmish  prog- 
ressing in  front.  Three  brigades  of  Pickett's 
division,  Corse's,  Stuart's  and  Terry's,  with  Ran- 
som's and  Wallace's — the  last  two  now  consoli- 
dated under  General  Ransom — extended  the  bat- 
tle line  of  Johnson's  division  to  the  right.  Here 
we  remained  until  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  a 
heavy  rain  falling  during  the  greater  part  of  the 
time,  our  skirmishers  having  an  occasional  brush 
with  the  enemy.  The  column  then  moved  for- 
ward along  the  road  in  the  direction  of  Five 
Forks,  skirmishing  front  and  flank,  reaching  the 
Forks  at  sunset;  without  halting,  Corse's  brigade, 
and  the  1st  and  7th  regiments  of  Terry's,  ad- 
vanced, driving  the  dismounted  cavalry  of  the 
enemy  through  and  out  of  the  woods  and  across 
the  open  country  beyond;  then  returning  to  the 
Forks,  lay  down  under  a  pelting  rain  upon  the 


310  THE  STORY  OF 

wet  ground  until  morning,  thus  in  line  ready  to 
fight  or  march. 

It  was  10  A.  M.,  Friday,  March  31,  that  the 
advance  began  in  the  direction  of  Dinwiddie 
Court  House,  the  cavalry  in  our  front  fighting  at 
every  step,  crossing  Chamberlain  Run,  and  being 
driven  back,  as  the  infantry  was  unable  to  afford 
them  help  on  account  of  the  swollen  condition  of 
the  stream.  Finally,  at  the  remains  of  an  old 
mill  on  the  Run,  the  infantry  succeeded  in  getting 
over,  in  the  face  of  a  sharp  fire  from  the  enemy, 
with  whom,  as  soon  as  across  the  stream,  we  kept 
up  a  running  fight  until  near  sunset.  When  near 
the  Court  House  we  encountered  a  large  body  of 
the  enemy's  dismounted  cavalry  formed  across 
the  road  prepared  to  oppose  our  further  advance. 
A  Federal  battery  of  artillery  in  their  center  com- 
manded the  ground  over  which  the  advance  had  to 
be  made,  but  we  made  a  successful  charge,  sweep- 
ing the  field,  the  enemy  retiring  in  confusion, 
leaving  their  dead  and  wounded,  we  occupying 
the  battlefield  until  nearly  1  o'clock  next  morning. 

In  this  engagement,  known  as  the  battle  of 
Dinwiddie,  the  famous  cavalry  officer.  General 
Phil  Sheridan,  with  all  his  brag,  was  scared  out 
of  his  boots — calling  that  night  on  General  Grant 
for  an  army  corps  of  infantry  to  help  him  out  of 
the  scrape,  although  he  already  had  more  men 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  311 

on  the  field  than  the  Confederates  who  were  as- 
sailing him. 

Humanity,  the  crowning-  grace  of  the  brave 
soldier,  secured  for  the  wounded — the  enemy's 
as  well  as  our  own — all  the  care  and  attention  we 
were  able  to  give  them.  Our  loss  had  not  been 
heavy,  especially  was  it  small  in  our  regiment — 
none  in  Company  D.  General  Terry's  horse  was 
struck  by  a  cannon  shot,  which  caused  it  to  fall 
with  the  General,  giving  him  quite  a  severe  in- 
jury.* 

Near  midnight,  or  a  little  later,  March  31,  the 
Confederates  retired  to  Five  Forks,  five  miles 
away,  taking  position  in  battle  line,  and  hastily 
throwing  up  temporary  breastworks  of  logs.  W. 
H.  F.  Lee's  cavalry  was  on  the  right,  then  the 
infantry  brigades.  Corse,  Terry,  Steuart,  Ran- 
som-Wallace, in  the  order  named,  with  a  portion 
of  Fitzhugh  Lee's  cavalry  under  General  Mun- 
ford  on  the  left.  Terry's  brigade  held  the  ground 
immediately  on  the  right  of  the  Forks,  with  the 
left  of  the  7th  Virginia  resting  at  the  Forks,  at 
which  was  posted  three  guns  of  Colonel  William 
Pegram's  Virginia  battalion  of  artillery.  The 
enemy  did  not  appear  in  force  in  our  front  until 
nearly  10  A.  M.  next  day. 


*On  account  of  Gen'l  Terry's  injury,  Col.  Jo  Mayo 
of  the  Third  Regiment  was  in  command  of  the  brigade 
at  Five  Forks. 


312  THE  STORY  OF 

Five  Forks  is  situated  in  a  thickly  wooded, 
flat,  wet  country,  and  gets  its  name  from  the 
crossing  of  two  country  roads  at  right  angles, 
with  the. deflection  of  another  road  bisecting  one 
of  these  angles ;  the  last  place  that  a  general  with 
a  small  force  would  desire  to  meet  a  large  force, 
or  select  his  ground  upon  which  to  fight  a  de- 
fensive battle,  because  it  was  in  an  open  country. 
This  position  could  be  easily  turned,  and  a  small 
force  easily  isolated  from  the  main  army  at 
Petersburg,  which  the  enemy,  in  fact,  did  by 
throwing  General  Warren's  infantry  corps,  nearly 
15,000  strong,  against  the  Confederate  left,  be- 
tween it  and  the  right  wing  of  our  army.  This 
point  could  only  have  been  necessary  to  hold  to 
protect  the  South  Side  railroad,  and  for  this 
reason  may  have  been  regarded  strategic,  but  it 
could  not  be  held  by  a  small  force,  if  an  enemy  in 
superior  numbers  chose  to  turn  it,  who  had  the 
advantage  of  approach  from  two  or  more  of  the 
five  roads  converging  there. 

Privates  Crawford  and  Dudley  of  Company  D 
were  on  the  skirmish  line.  After  several  unsuc- 
cessful attempts  by  the  Federal  skirmishers  to 
drive  in  ours,  they  concluded  to  try  something 
stronger.  In  the  meantime  Crawford  had  his 
musket  stock  at  the  small  part  thereof  severed  and 
he  came  back  to  the  main  line,  procured  another, 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  313 

and  returned  to  his  place  with  the  skirmishers. 
By  this  time  the  Federal  battle  line,  composed 
partly  of  dismounted  cavalry,  was  advancing,  and 
soon  overran  our  skirmishers,  killing-,  wounding 
and  capturing  nearly  the  whole  of  them,  coming 
with  a  rush  at  our  main  line,  by  which  they  were 
severely  punished  and  repelled.  These  attacks 
were  several  times  repeated  along  our  whole 
brigade  front,  each  time  being  repulsed  with 
loss  to  the  enemy  and  with  little  to  us.  Warren's 
infantry  corps,  having  placed  itself  near  the  mid- 
dle of  the  afternoon  around  and  beyond  the  Con- 
federate left,  advancing  boldly  struck  Ransom's 
and  Wallace's  brigades  in  flank,  doubling  them 
up  and  pushing  them  to  us  in  the  center.  Steuart's 
and  Terry's  brigades  now  moved  out  of  their  in- 
trenched line  and  with  a  fierce,  determined  fight 
met  the  oncoming  battle  against  more  than 
15,000  with  less  than  two  thousand.  In  the  na- 
ture of  things  this  could  not  and  did  not  last 
long,  but  it  did  last  until  the  moon  was  up  and 
the  evening  shades  had  fallen.  This  scribe,  it 
will  be  remembered,  was  still  only  a  boy,  and  re- 
members distinctly  Colonel  Flowerree  saying, 
"Now,  boys,  in  marching  away  follow  that  moon." 
This  because  we  were  in  a  country-  unknown  to 
us  or  to  our  commander.  Our  brigade  was  in 
conflict  with  Ayers'  Federal  division,  which  was 


314  THE  STORY  OF 

massed  in  column,  firing  over  each  other  and  too 
high,  thus  accounting  for  our  small  regimental 
and  brigade  loss  in  killed  and  wounded. 

Before  being  withdrawn  from  our  intrenched 
line  to  meet  the  flank  attack  of  Warren's  corps, 
Colonel  Pegram  of  the  artillery  fell  on  the  left  of 
our  regiment,  mortally  wounded.  The  7th  regi- 
ment, numbering  less  than  300  men,  under  the 
fearless  Colonel  Flowerree,  was  thrown  into  the 
breach  to  stem  the  tide,  but  after  a  few  minutes 
of  close,  almost  hand-to-hand  struggle,  it  left  the 
field,  not  however,  before  being  ordered  three 
times  by  the  Colonel  to  do  so. 

In  the  woods  where  we  were  fighting  it  was 
getting  dark,  the  moon  beginning  to  shine.  My 
position  as  Sergeant-Major  was  on  the  left  of  the 
regiment,  which  I  occupied  during  the  fierce 
contest.  Seeing  the  regiment  move  rapidly  by 
the  right  flank  and  to  the  rear,  but  in  good  or- 
der, I  stood  for  a  moment  reflecting  whether  I 
should  leave  or  take  the  chances  of  death  or  be- 
coming a  prisoner.  Choosing  the  former,  and 
passing  the  road  over  which  we  had  fought  our 
way  a  few  minutes  before,  I  found  myself  with 
two  Confederates,  who  were  a  little  in  advance 
of  me,  and  proceeding  but  a  short  distance  we 
found  ourselves  plump  up  against  the  lines  of 
Federal  cavalry.    A  Sergeant  demanded  our  sur- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  315 

render,  the  Confederate  nearest  him  threw  down 
his  gun;  the  one  next  to  me  turned  and  said, 
"What  shall  we  do?"  I  still  had  the  carbine  I 
had  picked  up  the  day  before  in  the  battle  near 
Dinwiddie,  but  no  ammunition,  and  without  re- 
plying- to  the  question  or  dropping  my  gun,  but 
keeping  my  eyes  fixed  on  the  sergeant,  who  was 
separated  by  a  small  space  from  his  comrades  as 
well  as  from  me,  I  observed  that  his  cap  had  been 
knocked  off  by  the  limb  of  a  pine  bush  under 
which  he  had  ridden,  and  that  his  attention  was 
fixed  upon  an  effort  to  get  his  cap.  Just  then 
seeing  an  opening  where  the  Federal  regiments 
joined,  I  darted  through,  amidst  a  shower  of 
bullets,  the  wind  and  heat  of  some  of  them  being 
felt  distinctly  in  my  face.  The  reader  may  easily 
imaging  the  speed  made  just  then  by  a  Confed- 
erate Sergeant-Major.  In  less  than  two  hundred 
yards  beyond,  I  overtook  my  command  forming 
across  the  road. 

Here  Generals  Pickett,  Corse,  Steuart,  Ransom 
and  Colonel  Mayo  were  urging  the  men  to  get 
quickly  into  line,  Pickett  in  the  midst  of  the  fire 
behaving  with  his  usual  gallantry  and  coolness.  In 
the  middle  of  the  road  stood  the  ensign  of  the  ist 
Virginia  regiment,  with  his  colors  and  guard, 
with  Gentry  and  his  Glee  Club,  singing,  "Rally 
Round  the  Flag,  Boys,  Rally  Once  Again" — and 


316  THE  STORY  OF 

rally  they  did,  although  badly  mixed,  but  in  a 
few  minutes  partial  order  was  restored,  not  a 
moment  too  soon,  for  the  enemy  was  coming. 
The  position  now  held  was  not  more  than  four 
hundred  yards  from  the  Forks.  As  yet,  the 
enemy  had  gained  but  little  ground,  though  he 
had  captured  a  large  number  of  prisoners,  prin- 
cipally of  Ransom's,  Wallace's  and  Steuart's 
brigades,  and  of  the  nth  and  the  24th  Virginia  of 
Terry's  brigade.  The  enemy  now  bore  down 
heavily  upon  our  right  front,  advancing  through 
an  open  field,  we  being  in  a  skirt  of  woods,  from 
which  we  sent  into  them  a  murderous  volley.  The 
smoke  clearing  away,  it  was  revealed  that  his 
whole  line  had  been  shattered,  large  numbers  of 
his  dead  and  wounded  on  the  ground,  the  living 
fleeing  in  full  haste.  In  the  meantime  the  enemy 
had  thrown  a  heavy  force  around  both  the  Con- 
federate flanks,  threatening  to  envelop  us  be- 
tween his  columns,  and  cutting  our  line  of  re- 
treat, forming  something  of  the  shape  of  a  horse- 
shoe, we  being  in  the  toe,  having  the  heel  open, 
as  the  only  chance  to  get  out.  This  gap  in  the 
heel  was  much  broadened  by  a  charge  of  the  Con- 
federate cavalry  on  the  right.  It  was  now  dark, 
the  command  badly  scattered,  and  almost  sur- 
rounded by  the  enemy.  We  moved  to  the  rear 
as  rapidly  as  possible,  and  those  remaining  not 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  317 

killed,  wounded  or  captured,  made  their  way 
across  the  South  Side  railroad,  where  camp  was 
made. 

This  was  one  of  the  most  fiercely  and  best  con- 
tested battles  of  the  war,  disparity  of  numbers 
considered.  It  can  be  safely  and  truthfully  as- 
serted by  those  present  who  witnessed  what  oc- 
curred that  never  were  troops  placed  in  a  more 
trying  situation — outflanked  on  both  wings,  at- 
tacked front  flank  and  rear,  by  a  force  fully  four 
times  their  numbers,  in  a  comparatively  flat,  open 
country,  away  from  supports,  without  shelter 
save  rude  log  breastworks,  hastily  thrown  up,  oc- 
cupied for  a  short  time  during  the  fight,  which 
was  as  close  as  fearless  men  could  make  it.  There 
was  no  panic,  for  the  men  rallied  and  fought 
again  and  again,  until  dark,  when  the  enemy  de- 
sisted. Much  of  the  fighting  was  so  close  that 
there  was  a  question  as  to  who  would  be  the 
victors. 

General  Grant  in  his  Memoirs  says  of  this  bat- 
tle :  "It  was  dusk  when  our  troops  under  Sheri- 
dan went  over  the  parapets  of  the  enemy.  The 
two  armies  were  mingled  together  there  for  a 
time  in  such  manner  that  it  was  almost  a  question 
which  one  was  going  to  demand  the  surrender 
of  the  other." 

It  now  appears  that  the  army  of  the  enemy  on 


318  THE  STORY  OF 

the  field  numbered  above  26,000,  while  I  am  sat- 
isfied we  could  not  have  had  exceeding  8000  men 
at  the  opening  of  the  battle.  We  had  the  con- 
solidated brigades  of  Ransom  and  Wallace,  about 
1000;  Steuart's  brigade,  about  1000;  Corse's 
brigade,  about  1100;  Terry's  brigade,  about  900; 
cavalry,  3500,  and  artillerists  300;  Rosser's  cav- 
alry division  guarding  the  trains,  not  in  the  battle. 

The  Federal  loss  was  124  killed  and  706 
wounded;  the  Confederate  loss,  450  killed,  750 
wounded.  The  Confederates  lost  four  guns, 
eleven  colors  and  3244  prisoners,  a  loss  which 
the  reader  will  see  from  statements  made  was  by 
us  sorely  felt. 

I  do  not  know  the  division,  brigade  or  regi- 
mental losses,  but  they  were  severe  in  the  regi- 
ment, while  Company  D  lost  but  six  men — 
Crawford,  Dudley,  Sumner  and  Mullins,  as  pris- 
oners. John  A.  Hale  and  William  D.  Peters 
severely  wounded,  both  got  off  the  field.  Captain 
Bane,  Lieutenant  Taylor  and  the  following  men : 
Bolton,  Crawford,  Darr,  Dudley,  Eaton,  Frazier, 
Fry,  Gordon,  Hale  (J.  A.),  Henderson,  Hurt 
(J.  J.),  Meadows,  Mullins.  Minnich  (C),  Min- 
nich  (G.  A.),  Peters,  Shannon,  Stafford,  Sum- 
ner, Suthern,  Wiley,  Yager  and  the  writer — 25 — 
were  all  the  men  and  officers  of  Company  D  in 
this  battle  of  Five  Forks. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  319 

In  Warren's  swing  around  our  left  he  had 
killed,  wounded  and  captured  a  large  part  of  our 
dismounted  cavalry  on  that  wing,  practically  the 
whole  of  the  brigades  of  Ransom  and  Wallace 
and  a  large  part  of  Steuart's.  After  this  capture 
we  could  not  have  had  more  than  4500  men  left, 
who  kept  up  and  maintained  the  fight  until  6 
o'clock  P.  M.  It  was  simply  a  yielding  to  over- 
whelming numbers,  and  the  strangest  thing  of 
all  is  that  we  were  not  all  captured  or  killed.  It 
was  within  the  power  of  the  Federals  at  any  time 
after  4  o'clock  P.  M.  to  have  made  prisoners  of 
us  all,  and  nothing  but  bad  Federal  generalship 
and  the  protection  of  God  saved  us,  for  the  Union 
army  were  brave  enough.  There  is  no  doubt 
about  Sheridan's  men  fighting;  they  were  men 
many  of  whom  for  gallant  conduct  had  been 
taken  from  other  arms  of  the  service  and  placed 
in  the  cavalry.  They  were  brave,  reckless,  and 
withal  generous  foes. 

In  closing  this  account  of  the  battle  of  Five 
Forks  I  here  insert  some  extracts  from  General 
Longstreet's  book,  "Bull  Run  to  Appomattox." 
Speaking  of  Warren's  flank  movement  and  after 
Ransom's  and  Wallace's  brigades  had  been  broken 
up,  he  says :  "The  brigades  of  Steuart  and  Terry 
changed  front  and  received  the  rolling  battle.  .  . 
the  Confederate  brigades   were  pushed  back  to 


320  THE  STORY  OF 

their  extreme  right,  where  in  turn  Corse's  brigade 
changed  front  to  receive  the  march."  Again: 
"The  position  was  not  of  General  Pickett's 
choosing,  and  from  his  orders  he  assumed  he 
would  be  reinforced.  His  execution  was  all  that 
a  skilful  commander  could  apply.  .  .  .  Though 
taken  by  surprise,  there  was  no  panic  in  any  part 
of  the  command;  brigade  after  brigade  changed 
front  to  the  left  and  received  the  overwhelming 
battle  as  it  rolled  on  until  it  was  crushed  back  to 
the  next,  before  it  could  deploy  out  to  aid  the 
front — or  flank  attack,  until  the  last  brigade  of 
the  brave  Corse  changed  and  stood  alone  on  the 

left It  is  not  claiming  too  much  for  that 

grand  division  to  say  that,  aided  by  the  brigades 
of  Ransom  and  Wallace,  they  could  not  have 
been  dislodged  from  their  intrenched  position  by 
parallel  battle,  even  by  the  great  odds  against 
them.  As  it  was,  Ayer's  division,  staggered  un- 
der the  pelting  blows  that  it  met,  and  Crawford's 
drifted  from  the  blows  against  it,  until  it  thus 
found  the  key  of  the  battle  away  beyond  the  Con- 
federate limits.  In  generalship  Pickett  was  not 
a  bit  below  the  'gay  rider.'  His  defensive  battle 
was  better  organized,  and  it  is  possible  that  he 
would  have  gained  the  day  if  his  cavalry  had  been 
diligent  in  giving  information  of  the  movements 
of  the  enemy." 


Chapter  XXVII 


21 


The  Retreat. 

Battle  of  Sailor's  Creek. 

Captured. 


EARLY  in  the  morning  of  Sunday,  April  2, 
we  marched  from  our  camp  near  South 
Side  railway  into  the  main  road  leading 
west  to  Amelia  Court  House.  Reaching  this 
road,  we  found  portions  of  Heth's  and  Wilcox's 
divisions  moving  along  the  same,  by  whom  we 
were  informed  that  our  lines  around  Petersburg 
had  been  broken  and  they  cut  off  from  the  rest 
of  the  army. 

We  pushed  on  that  day,  learning  en  route  that 
General  A.  P.  Hill  had  been  killed  before  Peters- 
burg. We  went  into  camp  near  Deep  Creek,  hun- 
gry and  conscious  of  loss,  both  in  the  breaking  of 
the  lines  at  Petersburg  and  in  the  death  of  sturdy, 
gallant  A.  P.  Hill — and  still  there  was  no  mur- 
muring. 

During  the  forenoon  on  Monday  the  enemy's 
cavalry  came  up  with  our  rear  guard,  when 
some  brisk  skirmishing  occurred.  We  passed 
Deep  Creek  near  2  P.  M.,  the  enemy  pressing 
closely.  Late  in  the  evening  we  received  a  scanty 
supply  of  rations,  the  first  since  March  29 — four 
days.  Beyond  Deep  Creek  a  short  distance  we 
went  into  camp;  moving  next  morning  on  the 
road  to  Amelia  Court  House,  but  the  enemy  had 
been  there  ahead  of  us,  had  made  an  attack  upon 


324  THE  STORY  OF 

a  wagon  train,  and  were  driven  off  by  the  team- 
sters and  stragglers,  leaving  their  dead  and  some 
of  their  wounded  on  the  streets.  Here  we  heard 
of  the  evacuation  of  Richmond.  This,  though 
looked  for,  brought  deep  gloom  over  not  a  few 
of  the  men,  who  for  more  than  three  years  had 
not  faltered  in  hope  of  ultimate  success.  From 
the  time  Amelia  Court  House  was  left  at  noon  on 
the  4th  until  Thursday,  the  6th,  at  the  close  of 
the  battle  of  Sailor's  Creek,  there  was  scarcely  an 
hour,  day  or  night,  that  we  were  not  engaged 
in  skirmishing  with  the  enemy.  They  were 
on  the  flank,  and  everywhere,  after  our  be- 
leaguered troops.  We  were  forced  to  halt  and 
form  line  of  battle,  once  or  more  a  square,  to 
prevent  capture.  The  march  was  necessarily 
slow  on  account  of  the  wagon  and  artillery  trains, 
which  moved  at  a  snail's  pace  through  the  mud, 
drawn  by  famished  animals,  which  had  had  but 
little  food  for  days.  While  soldiers  may  live  for 
a  time  on  enthusiasm,  mules  and  horses  must  have 
corn  or  oats.  As  for  ourselves,  we  were  with- 
out food,  save  a  little  parched  corn,  when  we 
could  stop  long  enough  to  parch  it;  otherwise  we 
took  it  raw,  shelling  it  from  the  cob  and  eating 
it  as  we  marched.  The  small  ration  issued  to  us 
at  Deep  Creek  had  only  been  sufficient  for  one 
square  meal.     Many  of  the  men  were  overcome 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  325 

with  fatigue,  hunger  and  want  of  sleep,  some 
actually  going  to  sleep  walking  along,  stumbling 
and  falling  in  the  road.  No  food  was  to  be  had 
in  the  country  along  the  road  upon  which  we  were 
marching,  as  the  people  had  been  stripped  of  ev- 
erything in  the  way  of  food  by  those  who  had  pre- 
ceded us.  It  was  unsafe  to  venture  far  from  the 
command  on  account  of  the  enemy's  cavalry  now 
on  all  the  roads,  and  many  of  our  men  were  made 
prisoners  by  going  away  from  the  line  of  march 
in  search  of  food.  We  halted  for  rest  but  once 
during  the  night  of  Wednesday,  the  5th,  then  only 
for  a  few  minutes,  in  line  of  battle,  for  the  enemy 
was  close  upon  us. 

It  was  the  general  expression  that  if  all  of  our 
marchings,  sufferings,  hardships,  privations  and 
sacrifices  for  all  of  the  preceding  years  of  the 
war  were  summed  up,  shaken  together  and 
pressed  down,  they  would  not  equal  those  we  were 
now  undergoing  on  this  tramp. 

At  daylight  on  Thursday,  April  6,  a  point  was 
reached  near  Sailor's  Creek,  a  small  tributary  of 
the  Appomattox,  a  short  distance  from  High 
Bridge,  and  probably  ten  miles  from  Farmville. 
The  marching  of  our  depleted  and  exhausted 
forces  for  the  past  two  days  had  been  conducted 
during  the  day  by  throwing  out  skirmishers  on 
both  flanks,  and  calling  them  in  at  dark,  our  rear 


326  THE  STORY  OF 

now  being  cared  for  by  the  troops  of  General 
Ewell.  The  skirmishers  in  front  and  on  the 
flank  became  actively  engaged  at  sunrise,  the  balls 
from  the  enemy's  sharpshooters  whistling  over 
and  among  the  men  of  the  regiment.  Here  I 
saw  for  the  first  and  last  time  General  Henry  A. 
Wise,  a  tall,  slender,  gray-haired  man,  straight  as 
an  arrow,  apparently  vigorous  for  a  man  of  his 
years.  We  were  now  to  fight  our  last  engage- 
ment— the  battle  of  Sailor's  Creek. 

The  skirmishing  now  grew  more  animated,  we 
expecting  every  moment  to  be  attacked,  but  the 
enemy  was  merely  attracting  our  attention  and 
trying  to  hold  us  where  we  were  until  his  in- 
fantry columns  could  come  up.  In  the  afternoon, 
probably  2  130  or  a  little  later,  a  heavy  force  of 
the  enemy's  cavalry  made  a  charge  on  a  battalion 
of  Confederate  artillery  in  advance  of  us  on  the 
same  road.  To  check  this  cavalry  charge,  we 
were  hurried  across  Sailor's  Creek,  reaching  the 
guns  of  Colonel  Huger's  battalion  in  time  to  see 
most  of  the  artillerists,  including  Colonel  Huger, 
taken  away  as  prisoners.  The  enemy  not  being 
able  to  take  these  guns  away,  as  we  were  now  at 
their  heels,  they  hurriedly  chopped  with  an  axe 
the  spokes  out  of  the  wheels,  disabling  them  for 
present  use,  then  retreated,  we  following  in  line 
of  battle  and  going  forward  through    an    open 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  327 

field,  meeting  no  resistance,  and  halting  on  a  piece 
of  high  ground.  A  squadron  of  Federal  cavalry, 
spying  General  Pickett  with  his  staff  riding  up 
in  our  rear,  made  a  dash  for  him ;  about  the  same 
time  he  discovered  the  object  of  these  bold  riders, 
and  galloped  quickly  to  the  lines  of  the  brigade 
to  our  left,  which  was  in  a  body  of  scattering  tim- 
ber. These  reckless  troopers  pushed  up  after  the 
General  until  close  to  our  men,  who  fired  upon 
them,  emptying  every  saddle.  This  incident  is 
given  to  show  the  reader  how  desperate  was  this 
prolonged  game  of  death. 

On  the  brow  of  the  hill  where  our  brigade 
halted  on  the  road  on  which  we  had  been  march- 
ing, there  was  intersection  with  another  road 
leading  directlv  west.  Here  we  hurriedlv  tore 
away  an  old  worm  fence,  piling  up  the  rails  to 
make  some  protection  against  rifle  balls.  On  the 
left  rear  of  Pickett's  and  part  of  Bushrod  John- 
son's divisions  on  Sailor's  Creek  were  Custis 
Lee's  and  Kershaw's  3000  men  under  General 
Ewell,  with  whom  we  had  no  connection,  nor  with 
Mahone's  division  and  other  troops  ahead  of  us, 
leaving  gaps  through  which  the  Federal  cavalry 
passed,  enabling  them  to  get  on  our  flanks  and 
rear.  The  enemy's  troops  in  this  engagement — 
one  army  corps  with  three  cavalry  divisions — 
numbered  25,000  or  more  men,  while  the  Con- 


328  THE  STORY  OF 

federates  did  not  have  7500  all  told.  The  righting 
was  desperate.  Along  our  front  and  fully  five 
hundred  yards  away  we  could  see  passing  to  our 
right  heavy  bodies  of  the  enemy,  evidently  bent 
upon  getting  ahead  of  us.  Moreover,  this  must 
have  been  manifest  to  our  commanding  officers, 
who  permitted  us  to  remain  idle  for  several 
hours  and  until  the  enemy  made  full  preparations 
to  attack  us.  That  somebody  blundered,  there  is 
no  doubt,  as  any  enlisted  man  in  the  ranks  could 
clearly  see.  We  should  have  moved  on.  The 
attack  came  between  3  and  4  o'clock  P.  M.  by  an 
assault  on  Munford's  dismounted  cavalry  in  a 
skirt  of  woods  to  our  right.  This  attack,  as  were 
others  on  our  right  front,  was  repulsed. 

General  Terry,  our  brigade  commander,  had 
given  the  order  to  move  to  the  right,  when  he  dis- 
covered another  advance  upon  us,  this  time  in 
heavy  force.  We  were  ordered  to  remain  where 
we  were  and  not  to  fire  until  the  enemy  were  close 
enough  to  see  the  whites  of  their  eyes,  then  fire 
and  charge  with  the  bayonet.  We  were  behind 
the  rails,  close  to  the  ground.  The  enemy,  armed 
with  repeating  rifles,  when  within  seventy-five 
yards  or  so  opened  upon  us.  filling  the  air  with 
balls,  and  coming  at  us.  Every  man  who  raised 
his  head  above  the  rails  gave  his  life  for  the  ven- 
ture.    Captain  Harris,  the  Adjutant  General  of 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  329 

the  brigade,  raised  his  head  to  look  and  fell  back 
dead;  a  sandy  haired  man  of  my  regiment  at  my 
elbow  met  the  same  fate.  He  was  from  Orange 
County  and  never  knew  what  hit  him.  Then 
came  a  lull  in  the  firing  in  front,  and  I  heard  a 
noise  behind  us ;  looking  around,  I  saw  a  column 
of  Federal  cavalry  close  behind  us,  one  of  whom 
had  boldly  dashed  up  behind  our  regiment,  seized 
the  colors,  and  with  drawn  saber  compelled  Tor- 
bett,  the  color  bearer,  to  surrender  the  same.  Such 
was  the  character  and  bravery  of  the  men  we  had 
to  fight.  Some  one  just  then  cried,  "Fire!"  and 
a  portion  of  our  regiment  delivered  its  fire  into 
the  faces  of  the  enemy  in  front.  In  a  moment 
began  an  indiscriminate  fight  with  clubbed  mus- 
kets, flagstaffs,  pistols  and  sabers.  In  a  few 
moments  all  was  over.  We  had  met  the  enemy 
and  we  were  theirs.  This  final  struggle  was  most 
tragic  We  were  now  marched  out  and  sur- 
rounded by  a  cordon  of  cavalry. 

Ewell's,  Kershaw's  and  Custis  Lee's  battle  on 
the  left  was  still  raging,  but  to  terminate,  as  had 
ours,  in  their  capture,  together  with  the  greater 
part  of  their  commands,  which  had  made  a  brave 
and  gallant  fight,  but  like  ourselves  were  the  vic- 
tims of  gross  blunders  on  the  part  of  someone  in 
authority  on  the  field,  as  well  as  overwhelmed  by 
superior  numbers.     This  battle  ended  my  activi- 


330  THE  STORY  OF 

ties  in  the  army.  There  remains  only  to  describe 
my  experience  as  a  prisoner  of  war,  which  I  will 
do  later  on. 

The  Federal  losses  in  this  battle  were  166  killed, 
1014  wounded.  The  Confederate  losses,  268 
killed,  2032  wounded,  tog-ether  with  some  6000 
prisoners  claimed  by  the  enemy.  A  portion  of 
the  division  escaped  with  General  Pickett  and 
reached  Appomattox. 

I  am  unable  to  give  the  number  of  the  killed, 
wounded  and  captured  of  our  division,  brigade  or 
regiment.  I  do  not,  however,  believe  the  7th  Vir- 
ginia in  this  battle  numbered  two  hundred,  the 
brigade  five  hundred,  the  division  not  exceed- 
ing two  thousand.  Company  D  had  two  officers 
and  sixteen  men  in  this  battle,  having  no  loss  in 
killed  or  wounded.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  with 
our  small  number  we  could  not  have  been  driven 
from  our  position  by  parallel  battle  line. 

Four  years  before  this  company  left  Pearis- 
burg,  Virginia,  with  102  men,  the  majority  of 
whom  were  as  promising  and  gallant  young  men 
as  Virginia  produced.  During  the  time  of  serv- 
ice twenty  recruits  were  added,  making  122  in 
all,  and  now  here  we  were  with  eighteen  left.  The 
reader  is  left  to  ask  where  were  the  104.  Let 
the  crippled  and  mangled  survivors  who  had 
been  discharged,   the  graves  of  the  noble  dead 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  331 

scattered  all  over  Virginia,  Maryland  and  Penn- 
sylvania, make  answer.  Can  anyone  wonder  that 
we  eighteen  were  drawn  together  that  day  by  a 
bond  of  suffering  and  blighted  hope,  closer  than 
ever  before  ? 

Here  are  the  names  of  the  men  of  Company 
D  present  in  this  last  tragic  struggle,  to-wit: 
Captain  R.  H.  Bane,  Lieutenant  Thomas  S.  Tay- 
lor ;  the  men,  Fry,  Yager,  Shannon,  Bolton,  Darr, 
Eaton,  Gordon,  Henderson,  J.  J.  Hurt,  C.  Min- 
nich,  G.  A.  Minnich,  Suthern,  Stafford,  Wiley, 
Meadows  and  the  writer. 

Strange  were  the  scenes  among  the  captives 
at  Sailor's  Creek :  some  cried,  some  prayed,  others 
were  angry;  some  cursed,  abusing  the  one  who 
blundered,  leading  us  into  the  trap  to  be  cap- 
tured, while  a  few  were  cheerful,  saying  all  is 
not  yet  lost,  but  it  was  apparent  to  the  writer 
that  we  had  fired  our  last  gun.  The  flag  we  had 
followed  to  victory  on  so  many  fields  was  now 
furled  forever,  and  strong  men  wept ! 

The  sun  was  fast  sinking;  the  men  lay  down 
upon  the  ground  and  were  soon  asleep,  many  not 
waking  until  the  sun  was  high  in  the  heavens  the 
next  day.  Gloom  was  depicted  on  every  coun- 
tenance, and  sorrow  was  in  every  face.  These 
men  had  seen  their  comrades  go  down  day  by 
day.  by  which  they  were  impressed  that  if  the 


332  THE  STORY  OF 

war  continued  it  was  only  a  question  of  time 
when  they  too  would  bite  the  dust.  They,  how- 
ever, had  this  consolation  regarding  their  fallen 
comrades:  that  they  had  gone  down  in  the  con- 
scientious belief  in  the  justness  of  their  cause,  in 
the  hope  of  victory,  and  had  not  lived  to  see  their 
flag  furled  in  defeat,  and  were  saved  the  humilia- 
tion of  tasting  the  bitter  cup  of  submission,  of 
which  we  were  to  drink  to  its  very  dregs.  Maybe 
these  after  all  were  the  lucky  men — who  knows? 
The  gallantry  and  devotion  of  our  soldiers  in 
the  unequal  struggle  proved  how  thorough  were 
their  convictions  of  the  righteousness  of  their 
cause.  Their  devotion  to  that  cause  and  their 
kindness  and  humanity  to  those  whom  the  fate 
of  war  placed  in  their  power,  proved  them  worthy 
sons  of  noble  ancestry.  These  men  viewed  the 
attempt  at  coercion  on  the  part  of  the  Northern 
people  as  aggression,  and  their  action  in  defense 
of  their  country,  homes  and  firesides,  as  an  in- 
herent, inalienable  right — a  defense  of  constitu- 
tional liberty. 

Immediately  upon  our  capture,  the  Federal 
soldiers  stripped  many  of  our  men  of  all  their 
good  hats,  boots  and  small  trinklets.  Colonel 
Flowerree,  who  had  a  splendid  new  hat  and  boots, 
was  deprived  of  both,  and  in  lieu  thereof  was 
given  a  worn  out,  dingy  old  cap  and  rough  shoes. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  333 

I  think  they  took  these  thing-s  as  souvenirs — war 
trophies — they  did  not  need  them,  for  they  were 
well  supplied. 

We  were  without  food  and  had  been  practically 
so  since  the  preceding  Monday.  Our  captors 
themselves  were  poorly  supplied,  but  our  humane, 
brave  and  generous  foes  divided  their  scanty  sup- 
ply with  us.  All  of  the  men  captured  in  the  battle 
of  the  day  before,  about  six  thousand,  the  Fed- 
erals then  claimed,  were  congregated  with  us  in 
the  field  in  which  we  were  placed. 


Chapter  XXVIII 


To  Prison  at  Point  Lookout,  Maryland. 

Prison  Life. 

Release. 

Home. 


NEAR  noon  on  Friday,  April  7,  the  march 
was  taken  up  for  prison  at  Point  Lookout, 
a  distance  of  about  150  miles,  though  at 
that  time  we  did  not  know  our  destination.  The 
Federal  soldiers  were  still  taking  from  our  men 
hats  and  other  articles  that  pleased  their  fancy. 
I  noted  in  my  description  of  the  battle  of  Dreury's 
Bluff  that  an  Irish  sergeant  of  the  1st  Virginia 
regiment  had  picked  up  a  fine  hat  on  the  battle- 
field which  he  had  given  to  me  because  it  would 
not  fit  his  head,  but  did  mine.  I  kept  this  hat 
until  the  opening  of  the  campaign  in  March,  1865, 
when  I  put  it  on,  believing  this  would  be  our  last 
campaign.  When  captured  at  Sailor's  Creek  I 
was  wearing  this  hat,  and  on  observing  the  Fed- 
eral soldiers  capturing  hats  from  our  men,  I  kept 
as  far  away  from  them  as  I  could  until  we  began 
the  march  on  the  7th,  when,  crossing  a  pond,  I 
soused  my  hat  in  the  muddy  water,  which  made 
it  then  appear  as  worthless,  but  it  was  safe  in  my 
possession.  I  wore  it  to  prison,  then  cleaned  off 
the  mud  and  wore  it  home.  This  hat,  a  blanket 
and  a  canteen  were  the  only  Federal  trophies  of 
the  war  I  carried  home. 

Late  in  the  evening  of  April  7,  while  on  the 
march,  we  met  a  drove  of  beef  cattle  being  driven 


338  THE  STORY  OF 

forward  for  use  of  the  Federal  army.  We  were 
halted  while  a  number  of  these  beeves  were 
slaughtered,  dressed,  cut  up  into  small  parcels  and 
handed  us  where  we  stood  in  the  road,  and  we 
marched  on  without  opportunity  to  cook  the  beef, 
which  we  devoured  blood  raw,  without  salt.  This 
probably  may  shock  the  reader,  but  it  was  the  best 
that  could  be  done. 

On  the  night  march  of  the  7th  from  Burkeville 
I  could  have  escaped,  but  I  reasoned  that  if  I 
did  I  would  most  likely  be  recaptured,  and  if  I 
was  not  I  would  probably  starve,  as  there  was  no 
food  in  the  country,  so  I  determined  to  risk  our 
captors  to  give  us  food. 

Next  morning  we  were  near  Nottoway  and 
passed  that  day  through  Petersburg,  halting  on 
Thursday,  the  13th,  near  10  o'clock  A.  M.,  at  the 
Federal  commissary,  nearly  a  mile  beyond  the 
city,  where  a  bountiful  supply  of  food  was  given 
us — the  first  we  had  received  since  March  29. 
Several  men  were  too  sick  to  eat,  I  of  the  number, 
enfeebled  as  we  were  from  our  long  continued 
marching  and  from  dysentery,  resulting  from  eat- 
ing raw,  warm  beef,  without  salt.  Resuming  the 
march  late  in  the  evening.  City  Point  was  reached 
at  dark,  where  we  were  huddled  together,  forced 
to  stand  all  night  in  mud  several  inches  deep,  in 
a  drizzling  rain,  without  rest  or  sleep,  not  even 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  339 

a  place  to  sit  down,  unless  in  the  mud  and  water. 
Such  is  war. 

Next  day,  April  14,  we  were  placed  aboard  a 
steamer,  that  evening  dropping  down  the  James 
River.  Next  morning,  Saturday  the  15th,  found 
our  vessel  anchored  off  Point  Lookout.  Here  we 
first  heard  of  Mr.  Lincoln's  assassination  the  pre- 
ceding night,  which  at  first  we  were  not  dis- 
posed to  credit,  but  were  soon  convinced  that  some 
fearful  catastrophe  had  taken  place,  as  the  flags 
on  the  shipping  were  at  half  mast.  As  soon  as 
we  were  landed  we  became  satisfied  that  the  re- 
port of  Mr.  Lincoln's  death  was  true,  the  Federal 
soldiers  informing  us  that  any  signs  of  exulta- 
tion would  result  in  the  opening  of  the  batteries 
on  us.  We  saw  that  the  guns  were  pointed  at  the 
prison.  They,  however,  mistook  the  spirit  and 
feelings  of  our  men,  who,  though  stung  by  defeat. 
yet  brave  and  chivalrous  foes,  they  could  in  no 
wise  justify,  excuse  or  palliate  so  cold-blooded 
a  murder,  much  less  rejoice  at  its  commission. 
They  regretted  greatly  the  death  of  Mr.  Lincoln, 
and  spoke  of  him  in  the  tenderest  terms,  saying 
had  he  lived  he  would  have  been  kind  to  our 
people. 

As  we  entered  the  prison  walls,  every  man 
was  searched  and  everything  of  value  (which  was 
little)   taken  from  him.     The  quarters  consisted 


340  THE  STORY  OF 

of  small  tents,  large  enough  for  about  five  men, 
into  which  were  crowded  about  eight  to  ten, 
divided  into  companies  in  charge  of  our  own  ser- 
geants. 

Around  the  prison  was  a  high  plank  fence  with 
a  platform  at  the  top,  on  which  the  guards  made 
their  beats.  The  water  was  bad — brackish,  dis- 
coloring our  teeth.  The  number  of  Confederates 
in  this  prison  was  more  than  23,000  men,  cover- 
ing about  twenty-two  acres  of  land — more  than 
1,000  to  the  acre.  The  number  of  deaths  among 
the  prisoners  reported  was,  from  April  to  July, 
over  6,800.  Among  these  was  Josephus  Suth- 
ern,  of  Company  D,  7th  regiment.  I  found  in 
this  prison  Sumner,  Crawford,  Dudley  and  Mul- 
lins,  of  Company  D,  who,  with  those  captured  at 
Sailor's  Creek,  to  wit:  Fry,  Yager,  Shannon, 
Bolton,  Darr,  Eaton,  Gordon,  Henderson,  Jim 
Hurt,  Meadows,  C.  Mmnich,  George  A.  Minnich, 
Suthern,  Stafford,  Wiley  and  the  writer,  making 
the  number  twenty  in  prison.  When  we  met  un- 
der these  new  conditions,  strange  sensations  were 
experienced,  as  the  reader  may  well  suppose. 

The  only  place  we  were  allowed  to  go  outside 
of  the  prison,  and  that  only  in  the  daytime,  was 
on  the  Chesapeake  bayside.  Our  rations  consisted 
of  eight  ounces  of  loaf  bread  per  day,  a  thin  piece 
of  bacon  or  salt  pork  boiled  and  cut  so  thin  that 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  341 

it  was  almost  transparent,  and  a  pint  cup  of  bean 
soup,  in  which  we  occasionally  found  a  bean.  As 
a  result  we  were  always  hungry — went  to  bed 
hungry,  dreamed  of  being  hungTy,  and  got  up 
ready  for  breakfast  with  the  same  feeling.  I 
went  to  prison  weighing  one  hundred  and  sixty- 
five  pounds,  not  sick  a  day  after  I  got  there,  and 
came  out  weighing  one  hundred  and  twenty- 
seven  pounds.  Carrying  out  the  ratio,  if  I  had 
stayed  there  six  months  I  would  have  weighed 
nothing.  We  were  constantly  in  danger  of  being 
wounded  or  losing  our  lives  by  the  reckless  firing 
of  the  negro  guards  into  the  prison  at  some  one 
claimed  by  them  to  be  violating  the  prison  rules. 
We  had  nothing  to  read  except  now  and  then 
when  we  found  some  man  with  a  Bible  or  Testa- 
ment. Some  of  the  men  were  ingenious  work- 
men, making  rings  from  gntta  percha  buttons  and 
selling  them  to  the  guards. 

Near  the  middle  of  June  orders  came  for  the 
discharge  of  the  prisoners,  upon  taking  the  oath 
of  fidelity  to  the  United  States.  The  men  were 
to  be  taken  out  in  alphabetical  order  and  trans- 
ported away  as  rapidly  as  could  be  done.  As  soon 
as  it  was  announced  that  men's  names  beginning 
with  the  letter  A  would  repair  to  headquarters, 
then  it  seemed  to  all  appearances  that  half  the 
prisoners  had  names  beginning  with  the  letter  A. 


342  THE  STORY  OF 

Many  a  poor  fellow,  in  his  anxiety  to  get  away, 
went  out  under  an  assumed  name.  The  letter 
J  was  called  on  Wednesday,  June  28,  when  the 
numbers  in  the  prison  had  been  greatly  reduced, 
though  only  the  ninth  letter  of  the  alphabet  had 
been  passed. 

Repairing  to  headquarters,  thirty-two  fell  into 
line  under  the  American  flag  unfolded  over  their 
heads  and  had  the  oath  administered  to  them ;  the 
officers  taking  a  personal  description  of  each  man, 
furnishing  him  the  oath  and  certificate  of  dis- 
charge in  writing,  when  he  was  passed  outside  the 
prison  wall.  Here  follows  an  exact  copy  of  the 
oath  taken  by  me  and  certificate  of  discharge  from 
prison : 

UNITED  STATES  OF  AMERICA. 

I,  David  E.  Johnston,  of  the  County  of 
Giles  and  State  of  Va.,  do  solemnly  swear 
that  I  will  support,  protect  and  defend  the 
Constitution  and  Government  of  the  United 
States  against  all  enemies,  whether  domestic 
or  foreign;  that  I  will  bear  true  faith,  alle- 
giance and  loyalty  to  the  same,  any  ordinance, 
resolution,  or  laws  of  any  state,  convention 
or  legislature  to  the  contrary  notwithstand- 
ing; and  further,  that  I  will  faithfully  per- 
form all  the  duties  which  may  be  required  of 
me  by  the  laws  of  the  United  States;  and 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  343 

that  I  take  this  oath  freely  and  voluntarily 
without  any  mental  reservation  or  evasion 
whatever. 

(Signed)  D.  E.  JOHNSTON. 
Subscribed  and  sworn  to  before  me  this 
28th  day  of  June,  A.  D.  1865. 

(Signed)  A.  C. -BRADY, 
Maj.  and  Provost  Marshal. 
The  above  named  has   fair  complexion, 
brown  hair  and  hazel  eyes,  and  is  5  feet  95^ 
inches  high. 


CERTIFICATE  OF  RELEASE  OF 
PRISONER  OF  WAR. 
Headquarters,  Point  Lookout,  Md. 
Provost  Marshal's  Office,  June  28,  1865. 
I  hereby  certify  that  David  E.  Johnston, 
prisoner  of  war,  having  this  day  taken  the 
Oath  of  Allegiance  to  the  United  States,  is, 
in  conformity  with  instructions  from  the  War 
Department,  hereby  released  and  discharged. 
In  Witness  Whereof  I  hereunto  affix  my 
official  signature  and  stamp. 

(Signed)  A.  C.  BRADY, 
Maj.  and  Provost  Marshal. 
A.  C  BRADY, 
June  28,  1865. 
Maj.  and  Provost  Marshal. 


344  THE  STORY  OF 

The  reader  may  be  interested  to  know  that  I 
have  grown  a  full  inch  in  height  and  gained  more 
than  80  pounds  in  weight. 

Steamers  were  at  the  wharf  and  as  soon  .as  it 
was  known  that  a  sufficient  number  of  those 
whose  destination  was  Richmond  were  discharged 
to  load  the  vessel,  we  went  aboard,  landing  at 
Richmond  the  evening  of  June  29,  and  walked 
up  on  to  the  streets,  which  for  the  most  part  were 
deserted,  the  city  in  ruins. 

This  was  Richmond,  on  the  majestic  James — 
the  proudest  city  of  Virginia,  for  whose  capture 
great  armies  had  contended  for  nearly  four  years ; 
not  only  the  capital  of  Virginia,  but  of  the  Con- 
federacy, doing  more  for  the  Confederate  soldier 
than  any  other  place  in  the  South.  Her  people 
were  intelligent  and  high  minded  and  patriotic. 
I  had  seen  her  in  her  power  and  glory,  but  now 
in  the  ashes  of  her  destruction,  poverty  and  hu- 
miliation. I  have  since  seen  her  in  her  opulence 
and  more  than  her  former  greatness  and  glory. 

On  landing  we  found  ourselves  among  a  people 
as  poor  and  destitute  as  we.  With  no  money,  no 
food,  no  place  to  stay,  traveling  without  scrip 
or  purse,  we  finally  made  our  way  to  old 
Chimborazo  Hospital,  where  we  slept  that  night 
on  the  grass  in  the  yard.  The  next  morning 
early  we  made  our  way  to  the  Danville  depot, 
where  a  crowd  of  several  hundred  ex-Confederate 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  345 

soldiers  were  congregated,  trying  to  get  some  kind 
of  transportation  home.  An  old,  broken  down 
engine  was  found  by  some  one  in  the  shop  and 
some  box  cars  in  the  yard,  which  were  cobbled  on, 
making  up  a  train  sufficient,  by  close  packing 
inside  the  boxes  and  on  top,  to  bear  the  crowd 
away.  I,  with  others,  concluded  to  try  the  top 
of  a  box  car,  as  we  would  have  more  room  and 
plenty  of  air,  but  the  car,  being  covered  with 
metal,  the  heat  up  there  from  both  the  sun  and 
the  metal  on  the  car  made  it  no  very  comfortable 
place.  The  engine,  too  cranky  to  do  much  pulling, 
stuck  on  the  first  grade,  but  after  much  labor 
it  started  again,  making  slow  progress.  Late  in 
the  evening  we  had  a  severe  electric  storm,  accom- 
panied by  a  heavy  downpour  of  rain,  giving  those 
on  the  boxes  a  thorough  drenching.  Those  of 
us  going  to  Lynchburg  left  the  train  at  Burkeville 
to  make  Farmville,  which  we  did  in  time  to  catch 
another  train  of  box  cars  which  carried  us  to 
within  six  miles  of  Lynchburg,  where  we  boarded 
a  packet  boat,  getting  into  Lynchburg  late  in  the 
evening.  There  we  found  quarters  in  a  building 
called  the  "Soldiers'  Home."  We  had  little  to 
eat  that  night,  but  more  the  next  day,  Sunday, 
having  to  remain  over  till  Monday  morning  for  a 
train  that  would  carry  us  westward  over  the  Vir- 
ginia and  Tennessee  Railroad.    Leaving  on  Mon- 


346  THE  STORY  OF 

day  morning,  we  reached  Big  Spring  at  the  foot 
of  the  Alleghanies,  where  the  railroad  was  again 
broken.  By  this  time  our  numbers  had  been  re- 
duced to  three — Leonard,  of  Carroll ;  Sam  Lucas, 
of  Giles,  and  the  writer.  We  now  trudged  along 
afoot  till  we  passed  through  Alleghany  tunnel, 
where  Lucas  left  us,  turning  to  the  right  for  his 
home.  Leonard  and  I  tramped  on,  dark  over- 
taking us  at  Christiansburg  depot,  where,  hungry 
and  worn  out,  we  sought  the  shades  of  a  friendly 
oak  and,  with  nothing  to  eat,  lay  down  and  went 
to  sleep. 

Our  tramp  was  resumed  early  on  Tuesday,.  July 
4.  After  a  mile  or  so,  finding  ourselves  grow- 
ing weaker  and  our  hunger  increasing,  we  then 
for  the  first  time  decided  to  beg,  and  succeeded 
in  getting  some  bread  and  our  canteens  filled  with 
milk,  which  we  finished  on  the  spot.  Moving 
on,  we  crossed  New  River,  on  the  partially  de- 
stroyed railroad  bridge,  beyond  which  a  mile  or 
so  we  received  another  supply  of  milk.  On  reach- 
ing Dublin,  my  comrade  and  friend,  Leonard, 
bidding  me  goodbye,  took  the  left  hand  and  I  the 
right.  I  was  now  heading  directly  for  home,  and 
after  walking  about  two  and  a  half  miles,  it  being 
about  2  P.  M.,  I  decided  to  sit  down  and  rest.  I 
propped  myself  against  a  small  oak  sapling  by 
the  roadside,  and  when  I  awoke  the  sun  was  be- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  347 

hind  the  western  mountains.  Eight  miles  further 
on  I  reached  the  home  of  Mr.  Thomas  Shannon, 
who  kindly  took  me  in,  fed  me  and  gave  me  a 
bed.  About  3  P.  M.  on  the  next  day,  Wednes- 
day, July  5,  1865,  four  years,  one  month  and 
twelve  days  from  the  day  on  which  I  had  left  for 
the  war,  I  reached  home — satisfied  with  my  ex- 
perience, with  no  more  desire  for  war,  yet  proud 
of  my  record  as  a  Confederate  soldier,  as  I  am 
to  this  day ;  with  no  apologies  to  make  to  anyone, 
as  I,  in  common  with  my  fellow  soldiers,  repudiate 
as  unsound  and  baseless  any  charge  of  rebellion 
•or  treason  in  the  war.  We  had  resorted  to  the 
revolutionary  right  to  establish  separate  govern- 
ment vouchsafed  to  us  in  the  Declaration  of  In- 
dependence. I  did  not  fight  to  destroy  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  United  States,  nor  for  the  per- 
petuation of  the  institution  of  slavery,  for  which 
I  cared  nothing,  but  did  fight  for  four  years  of 
my  young  manhood  for  a  principle  I  knew  to  be 
right.  Had  such  not  been  true,  I  would  not  have 
risked  my  life,  my  all,  therefor,  nor  have  been  a 
Virginia  Confederate  soldier. 

I  doubt  not,  had  the  South  at  any  time  during 
the  contest  agreed  to  return  to  the  Union,  that 
the  Federal  soldier  would  have  thrown  down  his 
musket  and  gone  home,  for  he  was  not  fighting 
for  the  destruction  of  slavery,  but  for  the  preser- 


348  THE  STORY  OF 

vation  and  restoration  of  the  Union.  I  attach  no 
blame  to  the  brave  Union  soldier.  He  was  as  sin- 
cere and  conscientious  in  the  fight  he  made  as 
was  I  in  the  one  I  made.  We  were  both  right 
from  our  respective  viewpoints.  With  charity  for 
all  and  malice  towards  none,  this  narrative  is 
closed. 


Chapter  XXIX 


The  Conclusion. 

War  Ends. 

The  Return  to  Civil  Pursuits. 

The  Confederate  Soldier. 


THE  war  was  now  ended,  the  issues  involved 
settled  and  closed,  so  far  as  they  could  be 
by  the  sword.  The  Federal  government 
had  stood  the  test,  proved  itself  too  strong  for 
the  allied  seceded  states,  overthrown  their  separ- 
ate government,  maintained  by  a  separate  people 
for  four  years,  and  established  the  fact  that  no 
state  could  secede  or  leave  the  Union  unless  by 
revolution  and  force  of  arms  strong  enough  to 
defy  and  successfully  resist  the  power  of  the  gen- 
eral government.  Slavery  was  abolished  and 
could  not  exist  among  the  American  people.  To 
accomplish  these  two  things  had  cost  thousands 
of  lives,  anguish,  blood  and  billions  of  treasure. 
With  the  close  of  the  war  the  survivors  of 
Company  D  who  were  either  at  home  or  in  hos- 
pital when  the  war  ended,  or  who  had  gotten 
home  from  the  surrender  at  Appomattox,  or  had 
been  released  from  military  prisons,  accepted  the 
result  of  the  conflict  in  good  faith  and  again 
entered  the  pursuits  of  civil  life.  As  they  had 
been  gallant  soldiers,  they  became  law-abiding, 
upright  and  worthy  citizens.  Numbers  of  the 
company  had  perished  on  the  battlefield,  in  hos- 
pitals and  in  prison.  Some  were  buried  on  the 
field  where  thev  fell,  with  no  monument  or  slab 


352  THE  STORY  OF 

to  mark  their  last  resting  place,  yet  they  died  for 
a  cause  the  justness  of  which  they  never  for  a 
moment  doubted.  The  survivors  lived  to  see  their 
efforts  for  separate  government  defeated,  the 
principles  and  the  righteousness  of  the  cause  not 
lost,  but  the  struggle  to  establish  and  maintain 
the  same  had  failed.  This  failure  is,  however,  no 
argument  against  the  justness  and  right  of  the 
cause.  No  braver,  nobler  company  of  men  had 
part  in  the  contest  than  the  company  of  which 
I  write.  Theirs  was  a  sacrifice  for  liberty  not 
to  be  gained  and  a  struggle  in  which  all  was  lost 
save  honor  and  manhood. 

Now  (1914),  nearly  fifty  years  have  passed 
since  the  close  of  the  mighty  conflict,  and  there 
remain  alive  of  those  brave  men  who  stood  on  the 
firing  line,  baring  their  bosoms  to  the  storm,  but 
few,  eighteen,  so  far  as  I  know  or  can  ascertain, 
and  whose  names  are  as  follows:  A.  L.  Fry, 
J.  T.  Frazier,  John  A.  Hale,  B.  L.  Hoge,  James 

J.  Hurt,  David  E.  Johnston, Lewy,  N.  J. 

Morris,  Thomas  N.  Mustain,  A.  C.  Pack,  William 
D.  Peters,  John  W.  Sarver,  Alexander  Skeens, 
Joseph  Skeens,  W.  H.  H.  Snidow,  Thomas  J. 
Stafford,  Gordon  L.  Wilburn  and  Jesse  B.  Young. 

In  what  is  said  herein  in  praise  of  the  honor 
and  glory  won  in  war  and  peace  by  the  Con- 
federate   soldier,    particularly    of    those    of   the 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  353 

Army  of  Northern  Virginia,  with  which  I  served 
throughout  the  four  years'  struggle,  I  do  not  for 
one  moment  mean  or  intend  to  detract  from  the 
laurels  won  by  the  heroic  Union  soldier,  who 
stood  in  the  firing  line,  faithfully  discharging  his 
duty;  for  he,  as  well  as  we,  was  contending  for 
principles  regarded  sacred  and  for  which  we  had 
risked  our  lives,  and  in  which  struggle  one  or 
the  other  of  the  combatants  must  yield.  All  were 
American  soldiers,  and  the  glory  and  honor  won 
by  each  is  the  common  heritage  of  the  American 
people,  not  to  be  obscured  or  clouded  by  the  ques- 
tions about  which  we  differed.  Each  struggled 
to  maintain  the  right  as  God  gave  him  to  see  the 
right. 

We  often  talked  along  the  skirmish  lines  with 
Union  soldiers  and  they  invariably  and  vehem- 
ently denied  that  they  were  fighting  to  abolish 
or  destroy  slavery.  Particularly  was  this  true  of 
those  from  the  Northwestern  states.  In  opposi- 
tion to  our  claim  or  contention  that  we  were  fight- 
ing for  independence — separate  government — 
they  insisted  that  they  were  fighting  for  the 
Union,  a  common,  undivided  country;  did  not 
want  to  see  the  country  broken  up  by  division ; 
and  I  feel  fairly  safe  in  stating  that  this  feeling 
and  sentiment  largely  dominated  the  great  major- 
ity of  the  Union  soldiers.     I  recall  one  or  more 

23 


354  THE  STORY  OF 

conversations  with  Union  soldiers  along  the  lines 
on  the  above  subject,  in  which  they  told  me  that 
if  they  believed  they  were  fighting  to  free  the 
slaves  they  would  quit  the  army  and  go  home. 
The  Confederate  soldier,  as  I  have  already 
said,  accepted  in  good  faith  the  result  of  the  war, 
bore  no  malice  toward  those  whom  he  had  fought 
face  to  face,  knowing: 

"Malice  is  a  wrinkled  hag,   hell-born; 
Her  heart  is  hate,  her  soul  is  scorn. 
Blinded  with  blood,  she  cannot  see 
To  do  any  deed  of  charity." 

And  again  remembering  the  thought  expressed 
in  the  lines : 

"You  cannot  tame  the  tiger, 
You  dare  not  kill  the  dove ; 
But  every  gate  you  bar  with  hate 
Will  open  wide  to  love." 

No  such  army  ever  trod  this  earth  as  the  Army 
of  Xorthern  Virginia,  composed  of  the  best  body 
of  fighting  men  that  ever  shouldered  a  musket. 
President  Roosevelt  said  of  them :  "The  world 
has  never  seen  better  soldiers  than  those  who  fol- 
lowed Lee." 

The  Federal  General  Hooker — "Fighting  Joe," 
as  he  was  aptly  called  by  his  soldiers,  in  his  testi- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  355 

mony  before  the  committee  of  Congress  on  the 
conduct  of  the  war,  in  speaking  of  the  Army  of 
Northern  "Virginia,  among  other  things  said : 
"That  army  had  by  discipline  alone  a  character  for 
steadiness  and  efficiency  unsurpassed,  in  my  judg- 
ment, in  ancient  or  modern  times.  We  have  not 
been  able  to  rival  it." 

Colonel  David  F.  Pugh,  a  gallant  Federal  sol- 
dier, and  a  late  commander  of  the  Grand  Army 
of  the  Republic,  in  an  address  delivered  by  him 
at  the  unveiling  of  the  Confederate  monument  at 
Camp  Chase,  Ohio,  June  7,  1902,  said:  "All  the 
bitterness  has  gone  out  of  my  heart,  and  in  spite 
of  a  Confederate  bullet  in  my  body,  I  do  not  hesi- 
tate to  acknowledge  that  their  valor  is  part  of 
the  common  heritage  of  the  whole  country.  We 
can  never  challenge  the  fame  of  those  men  whose 
skill  and  valor  made  them  the  idols  of  the  Con- 
federate army.  The  fame  of  Lee,  Jackson,  the 
Johnstons,  Gordon,  Longstreet,  the  Hills,  Hood 
and  Stuart  and  many  thousands  of  non-commis- 
sioned officers  and  private  soldiers  of  the  Con- 
federate armies,  whose  names  are  not  mentioned 
on  historic  pages,  can  never  be  tarnished  by  the 
carping  criticisms  of  the  narrow  and  shallow 
minded." 

If  this  be  the  estimate  of  a  Northern  president 
and  of  a  leading  general  of  our  adversaries,  who 


356  THE  STORY  OF 

at  one  time  commanded  the  gallant  Army  of  the 
Potomac,  and  of  the  other  brave  Federal  soldier 
whom  I  have  quoted,  what  shall  we  in  truth  say 
for  ourselves? 

Lieutenant-General  Early,  among  the  bravest 
and  best  soldiers  in  the  Army  of  Northern  Vir- 
ginia, and  who  fought  nearly  a  hundred  battles 
and  skirmishes,  hence  competent  to  speak  on  the 
subject,  in  his  Memoirs  says :  "I  believe  the 
world  has  never  produced  a  body  of  men  super- 
ior in  courage,  patriotism  and  endurance  to  the 
private  soldiers  of  the  Confederate  armies.  I  have 
repeatedly,  seen  these  soldiers  submit  with  cheer- 
fulness to  privations  and  hardships  which  would 
appear  to  be  almost  incredible ;  and  the  wild  cheers 
of  our  brave  men,  when  their  lines  sent  back 
opposing  hosts  of  Federal  troops,  staggering,  reel- 
ing and  flying,  have  often  thrilled  every  fiber  in 
my  heart.  I  have  seen  with  my  own  eyes  ragged, 
barefooted  and  hungry  Confederate  soldiers  per- 
form deeds  which,  if  performed  in  days  of  yore  by 
mailed  warriors  in  glittering  armor,  would  have 
inspired  the  harp  of  the  minstrel  and  the  pen  of 
the  poet." 

But  arguing  the  nobility  of  the  Confederate 
soldier  is  like  arguing  the  brightness  of  the  sun  at 
noonday.  The  Confederate  soldier  was  truly  an 
American,  for  his  people  in  the  South  were  the 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  357 

truest  type  of  Americans  in  the  land,  having  very 
little  foreign  population  among  them.  Again,  this 
Confederate  soldier  was  born  and  reared  a  gentle- 
man, was  so  by  instinct.  He  was  not  a  mercen- 
ary; he  was  neither  for  conquest  nor  aggression, 
but  stood  purely  for  self-defense.  He  believed 
in  his  inmost  soul  that  no  people  had  juster  cause, 
higher  aspirations,  or  made  braver  or  nobler  re- 
solves for  cause,  country,  families,  homes  and 
firesides.  I  turn  to  ask,  who  were  these  Confed- 
erate soldiers?  They  were  principally  country 
folks,  farmers,  mechanics,  school  boys,  as  stated; 
native  born  Americans,  descendants  of  Revolu- 
tionary patriots,  by  no  means  all  slave  owners; 
thousands  never  owned  slaves,  and  many  were 
opposed  to  the  institution.  The  Confederate  sol- 
dier was  always  impatient  of  military  restraint, 
feeling  himself  the  equal  of  and  as  good  as  any 
man,  and  not  inferior  to  his  superior  in  rank ;  in 
battle,  as  a  rule,  his  own  general ;  his  individuality 
and  self-reliance,  among  his  noted  characteristics, 
were  the  crowning  glory  of  his  actions,  and  this 
self-reliance  taught  him  when  it  was  wise  and 
prudent  to  fight,  and  when  it  was  the  better  part 
of  valor  to  decline.  On  the  battlefield  he  was 
at  his  best;  "his  clothes  might  be  ragged,  but  his 
musket  and  saber  were  bright.  His  haversack 
empty,  but  he  kept  his  cartridge  box  filled.    Often 


358  THE  STORY  OF 

his  feet  were  bare,  blistered  and  bleeding;  occa- 
sionally he  might  straggle  on  the  march,  but  was 
up  when  the  battle  was  on." 

Barefoot,  ragged,  without  food,  no  pay  and 
nothing  to  buy  if  he  had  money,  he  marched  fur- 
ther, laughed  louder,  making  the  welkin  ring  with 
his  rebel  yell;  endured  more  genuine  suffering, 
hardship  and  fatigue,  fought  more  bravely,  com- 
plained and  fretted  less,  than  any  soldier  who 
marched  beneath  the  banners  of  Napoleon.  His 
nerve  was  steady  and  his  aim  was  sure,  and  his 
powers  of  endurance  and  resistance  unmeasured. 
This  same  Confederate  soldier  fought  and  hoped 
and  hoped  and  fought: 

"Sometimes  he  won,  then  hopes  were  high ; 
Again  he  lost,  but  it  would  not  die; 
And  so  to  the  end  he  followed  and  fought, 
With  love  and  devotion,   which  could  not  be 
bought." 

Though  his  ears  were  often  greeted  with  the 
cries  of  woe  and  distress  of  those  at  home 
(enough  to  break  his  heart),  his  ardor  chilled 
not;  he  had  a  never  faltering  courage;  his  spirit 
remained  unbroken,  his  convictions  never  yielded. 
In  the  darkest  hour  of  our  peril,  in  the  midst  of 
dark  and  lowering  clouds,  with  scarcely  the  glim- 
mer of  a  star  of  apparent  hope,  he  still  stood  firm 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  359 

and  grasped  his  musket  with  a  tighter  grip.  Fol- 
lowing is  the  description  given  of  this  soldier  by 
another : 

"Look  at  the  picture  of  this  soldier  as  he  stood 
in  the  iron  and  leaden  hail,  with  his  old,  worn  out 
slouch  hat,  his  bright  eyes  glistening  with  excite- 
ment, powder-begrimed  face,  rent  and  ragged 
clothing,  with  the  prints  of  his  bare  feet  in  the 
dust  of  the  battle,  a  genuine  tatterdemalion,  fight- 
ing bravely,  with  no  hope  of  reward,  promotion 
or  pay,  with  little  to  eat  and  that  often  cornbread 
and  sorphum  molasses.  If  he  stopped  a  Yankee 
bullet  and  was  thereby  killed,  he  was  buried  on 
the  field  and  forgotten,  except  by  comrades  or  a 
loving  old  mother  at  home." 

"In  the  solemn  shades  of  the  wood  that  swept 
The  field  where  his  comrades  found  him, 

They  buried  him  there — and  the  big  tears  crept 
Into  strong  men's  eyes  that  had  seldom  wept. 

His  mother — God  pity  her! — smiled  and  slept, 
Dreaming  her  arms  were  around  him." 

In  modern  times  there  has  never  been  such 
valor  and  heroism  displayed  as  in  our  Civil  War, 
never  such  soldiers  as  the  Union  and  Confederate, 
and  certainly  never  such  as  the  Confederate  sol- 
diers, and  it  would  be  nothing  to  their  credit  to 
have  achieved  victories  over  less  valorous   foes 


360  THE  STORY  OF 

than  the  Union  soldiers,  and  no  credit  to  the 
Union  soldiers  that  they  overwhelmed  men  of 
less  bravery.  The  individuality  of  the  Confeder- 
ate soldier  was  never  lost,  and  this  with  his  self- 
possession  and  intelligent  thought  made  him  well 
nigh  invincible.  The  Army  of  Northern  Virginia 
as  a  whole  was  never  driven  from  a  battlefield, 
although  confronted  by  as  good  soldiers  as  were 
on  the  continent.  No  danger  could  appall  these 
men  of  Lee,  no  peril  awe,  no  hardships  dismay, 
no  numbers  intimidate.  To  them  duty  was  an  in- 
spiration. They  had  devastated  no  fields,  dese- 
crated no  temples  and  plundered  no  people,  al- 
ways respecting  woman,  and  feared  no  man.  The 
record  of  these  soldiers  since  the  war  is  clean, 
their  names  a  stranger  to  criminal  records;  few, 
if  any,  who  followed  Lee  have  been  behind  the 
bars  of  a  jail.  He  was  their  great  exemplar. 
Thousands  of  these  non-commissioned  officers 
and  private  soldiers,  after  the  first  year  of  the 
war,  were  fitted  not  only  to  command  regiments, 
but  could  well  have  filled  much  higher  military 
positions. 

Great  soldiers  were  Lee,  Johnston,  Jackson, 
Longstreet.  Hills,  Pickett,  Stuart  and  others,  but 
who  made  them  great?  No  generals  ever  had 
such  soldiers.  It  was  these  Confederates  in  the 
ranks  that  made  the  names  of  their  generals  im- 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  361 

mortal.    Who  would  have  ever  heard  of  them,  or 
of  General  Grant,  but  for  the  Confederate  soldier? 

What  this  Confederate  soldier  has  been  to  the 
South  since  the  war  cannot  be  measured  or  stated. 
Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  conflict  and  he  had 
reached  his  home,  if  he  had  one  left,  his  troubles 
were  not  over.  He  was  confronted  with  the  aft- 
ermath— the  carpet-bagger  and  the  scallawag,  as 
well  as  by  military-enforced  reconstruction,  the 
blackest  spot  on  the  page  of  American  history. 
Well  we  might  and  did  forgive  the  wrongs  of 
war,  but  how  were  we  to  overlook  and  forget  the 
outrageous  and  shameful  things  done  in  the  name 
of  restoration  of  civil  government,  by  the  carpet- 
bagger, Northern  political  pest  and  pirate — the 
Southern  scallawag,  the  low,  mean,  unworthy 
Southern  white  man,  thrown  to  the  surface  by 
the  revolution,  but,  like  all  dirt  and  filth,  to  go 
to  the  bottom  and  sink  in  the  mud  when  the  flood 
had  subsided. 

Serious  and  grave  as  these  questions  were, 
which  sorely  tried  the  Confederate  soldier's  cour- 
age, patience  and  forbearance,  as  they  had  been 
tested  in  war,  he  met  them  bravely,  firmly  and 
by  his  indomitable  spirit  directed  and  controlled 
them.  His  broad,  keen,  intelligent  knowledge  of 
men  and  things  finally  carried  him  through  the 
trying  ordeal,  and  crowned  his  labors  with  stable 


362  THE  STORY  OF 

governments  for  the  states  of  his  Southland,  the 
most  American  conservative  portion  of  the  re- 
public, made  so  largely  by  the  brain,  brawn, 
energy  and  industry  of  the  Confederate  soldier, 
who  has  been  the  leader,  promoter  and  architect 
of  her  industrial  and  political  fortunes,  the  idol 
of  her  people,  her  representative  in  the  every  fiber 
and  thought  of  her  existence  and  governments. 
He  has  raised  her  from  her  ashes  and  poverty 
into  a  veritable  garden  and  to  industrial  and 
political  power.  The  last  roll  call  will  shortly  be 
sounded,  his  sun  will  soon  set — what  a  hero! 
What  an  object  of  interest,  will  be  the  last  sur- 
viving soldier  of  the  Confederacy  (I  crave  to  be 
the  one!),  the  only  and  last  representative  of  that 
government  of  which  the  great  English  scholar 
and  poet.  Professor  Worsely,  has  written: 

"No  nation  ever  rose  so  white  and  fair, 
Or  fell  so  free  of  crime." 


Appendix  No.  1 


RANK,   WOUNDS,  DEATHS,   DISCHARGES, 
ETC. 

No.  1.  James  H.  French,  captain  first  year  of  war; 
led  the  company  in  battles  of  Bull  Run  and 
First  Manassas. 

No.  2.  Eustace  Gibson,  first  lieutenant  first  year  of 
war ;  in  battles  Bull  Run  and  First  Manassas. 
Brave  soldier. 

No.  3.  W.  A.  Anderson,  second  lieutenant  first 
year. 

No.  4.  Joel  Blackard,  second  junior  lieutenant  first 
year ;  elected  captain  at  reorganization,  April, 
1862 ;  in  battles  of  Bull  Run,  First  Manassas, 
Williamsburg,  Seven  Pines,  Cold  Harbor ; 
killed  in  Battle  of  Frazier's  Farm,  June  30, 
1862. 

No.  5.  R.  H.  Bane,  sergeant;  elected  first  lieuten- 
ant at  reorganization,  April,  1862 ;  promoted 
captain  on  death  of  Blackard ;  wounded  at 
First  Battle  of  Manassas ;  led  the  company 
for  the  remainder  of  the  war ;  died  since  the 
war. 

No.  6.  John  W.  Mullins,  second  sergeant ;  promoted 
to  first  sergeant :  elected  second  lieutenant  at 
reorganization,  April,  1862 ;  wounded  at  Sec- 
ond Battle  of  Manassas  and  Howlert  House, 
dying  of  wound  received  at  last  named  place. 

No.  7.  Elisha  M.  Stone,  corporal ;  elected  third 
lieutenant  at  reorganization,  April,  1862  ; 
wounded    in    battles    of    Williamsburg:    and 


366  THE  STORY  OF 

Gettysburg;  captured  at  last  named  battle; 
remained  a  prisoner  to  close  of  the  war;  led 
Company  E,  7th  regiment,  in  Battle  of 
Gettysburg. 

No.  8.  Elijah  R.  Walker,  elected  second  junior  lieu- 
tenant in  1862;  promoted  to  second  lieuten- 
ant on  death  of  Mullins ;  wounded  in  battles 
of  Seven  Pines  and  Gettysburg ;  disabled  for 
service  in  last  named  battle,  and  retired  in 
April,  1864. 

No.  9.  Thomas  S.  Taylor,  first  sergeant ;  elected 
second  lieutenant,  November  25,  1864; 
slightly  wounded  at  Gettysburg;  captured 
at  Battle  of  Sailor's  Creek. 

No.  10.  A.  C.  Pack,  first  sergeant ;  in  battles  of 
Bull  Run  and  First  Manassas ;  discharged  on 
account  of  disability  in  Fall  of  1861. 

No.  11.  B.  P.  Watts,  elected  second  sergeant,  but 
on  account  of  ill  health  not  mustered  into 
service. 

No.  12.  J.  C.  Hughes,  elected  third  sergeant  in 
April,  1861 ;  in  prison  at  close  of  war. 

No.  13.  William  D.  Peters,  fourth  sergeant  in  April, 
1861 ;  third  sergeant  at  reorganization ; 
severely  wounded  at  Battle  of  Five  Forks, 
April  1,  1865. 

No.  14.  Hamilton  J.  Hale,  fifth  sergeant ;  died  at 
Culpeper,  October,  1861. 

No.  15.  A.  L.  Fry,  first  sergeant;  wounded  at  First 
Battle  of  Manassas ;  captured  at  Warrenton, 
September,  1862;  slightly  wounded  at  Bat- 
tle of  Plymouth,  N.  C,  April,  1864;  cap- 
tured at  Battle  of  Sailor's  Creek,  April,  1865 ; 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  367 

a  prisoner  at  Point  Lookout  at  close  of  the 
war. 

No.  16.  W.  H.  H.  Snidow,  second  sergeant ;  in  Con- 
federate prison  at  close  of  the  war. 

No.  17.  Joseph  C.  Shannon,  fourth  sergeant ; 
slightly  wounded  at  Battle  of  Frazier's  Farm ; 
captured  at  Battle  of  Sailor's  Creek;  a 
prisoner  at  Point  Lookout. 

No.  18.  David  E.  Johnston,  fourth  sergeant ; 
slightly  wounded  at  Battle  of  Williamsburg ; 
appointed  sergeant-major  7th  Virginia  Regi- 
ment, December  10,  1862;  severely  wounded 
at  Battle  of  Gettysburg,  July  3,  1863 ;  left  on 
the  field  and  captured;  also  captured  at 
Battle  of  Sailor's  Creek,  April  6,  1865;  a 
prisoner  at  Point  Lookout  at  end  of  the  war. 

No.  19.  T.  N.  Mustain,  second  corporal ;  trans- 
ferred 1862  to  57th  Virginia  Infantry. 

No.  20.  John  W.  Hight,  fourth  corporal ;  wounded 
at  battles  of  Seven  Pines  and  Second  Manas- 
sas ;  captured  at  Gettysburg  on  third  day's 
battle;  deserted. 

No.  21.  A.  J.  Thompson,  first  corporal;  wounded 
at  Battle  of  Williamsburg;  in  prison  at  close 
of  war.     No  better  soldier. 

No.  22.  Daniel  Bish,  second  corporal ;  wounded  at 
Battle  of  Frazier's  Farm;  killed  at  Battle  of 
Gettysburg,  third  day. 

No.  23.  George  C.  Mullins,  third  corporal ;  cap- 
tured at  Battle  of  Five  Forks;  a  prisoner  at 
Point  Lookout. 

No.  24.  Jesse  B.  Young,  fourth  corporal ;  temporary 
regimental   ensign;    wounded   at  battles   of 


368  THE  STORY  OF 

Frazier's  Farm  and  Gettysburg  and  cap- 
tured; again  wounded  in  Battle  at  Clay's 
House.    A  brave  and  valiant  soldier. 

No.  25.  Edward  Z.  Yager,  first  sergeant  in  1864 ; 
wounded  in  Battle  of  Williamsburg;  cap- 
tured at  Sailor's  Creek;  prisoner  at  Point 
Lookout. 

No.  26.  David  C.  Akers,  wounded  at  Battle  of 
Frazier's  Farm;  killed  in  Battle  of  Gettys- 
burg. 

No.  27.  George  W.  Akers,  died  in  1862. 

No.  28.  W.  R.  Albert,  discharged  in  1862. 

No.  29.  Allen  M.  Bane,  transferred  from  4th  Vir- 
ginia regiment  in  exchange  for  John  H.  Mar- 
tin, of  Company  D;  wounded  in  Battle  of 
Williamsburg ;  captured  at  Battle  of  Frazier's 
Farm;  transferred  to  1st  Kentucky  battalion 
of  cavalry. 

No.  30.  Alexander  Bolton,  cook  and  member  of 
ambulance  corps;  a  prisoner  at  Point  Look- 
out. 

No.  31.  Joseph  E.  Bane,  killed  at  First  Battle  of 
Manassas. 

No.  32.  Jesse  Barrett,  killed  at  Battle  of  Gettys- 
burg, third  day. 

No.  33.  Travis  Burton,  wounded  at  Battle  of  Seven 
Pines;  transferred. 

No.  34.  W.  H.  Carr,  wounded  at  Second  Battle  of 
Manassas;  retired. 

No.  35.  James  M.  Collins,  detailed  as  blacksmith. 

No.  36.  John  R.  Crawford,  slightly  wounded  at  Bat- 
tle of  Boonsboro  Gap ;  captured  in  Battle  of 
Five  Forks ;  a  prisoner  at  Point  Lookout. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  369 

No.  37.  William  Crawford,  over  age ;  discharged. 

No.  38.  James  B.  Croy,  on  special  service ;  captured 
and  held  a  prisoner  until  near  end  of  war. 

No.  39.  James  Cole,  killed  at  Battle  of  Boonsboro 
Gap. 

No.  40.  T.  P.  Darr,  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  at 
Battle  of  Frazier's  Farm ;  captured  at  Battle 
of  Sailor's  Creek;  a  prisoner  at  Point  Look- 
out. 

No.  41.  John  S.  Dudley,  wounded  in  Second  Bat- 
tle of  Manassas;  also  at  Sharpsburg,  and 
captured;  slightly  wounded  at  Dreury's 
Bluff ;  captured  at  Five  Forks ;  a  prisoner  at 
Point  Lookout. 

No.  42.  M.  J.  Dulaney,  died  June,  1862. 

No.  43.  D.  R.  Dulaney,  transferred  to  Virginia  Re- 
serves. 

No.  44.  W.  H.  Douthat,  discharged  in  1862. 

No.  45.  Thomas  Davenport,  deserted  in  Spring, 
1862. 

No.  46.  David  Davis,  discharged  in  1862. 

No.  47.  Elbert  S.  Eaton,  wounded  in  Second  Battle 
of  Manassas ;  captured  in  Battle  of  Sailor's 
Creek ;  a  prisoner  at  Point  Lookout. 

No.  48.  Elisha  D.  East,  whipped  out  of  service. 

No.  49.  John  W.  East,  wounded  in  battles  of  Wil- 
liamsburg, Plymouth,  N.  C,  and  Dreury's 
Bluff;  deserted  in  1864. 

No.  50.  Joseph  A.  Eggleston,  died  in  1862  of 
wounds  received  in  battle  of  Frazier's  Farm. 

No.  51.  James  H.  Eggleston,  died  of  disease,  June, 
1862. 


370  THE  STORY  OF 

No.  52.  John  S.  W.  French,  deserted    at    Suffolk, 

Va.,  May,  1863. 
No.  53.  F.  H.  Farley,  wounded  in  second  battle  of 

Manassas;  deserted  in  1864. 
No.  54.  William  C.  Fortner,  wounded  in  battle  of 

second  Manassas;  also  at  Gettysburg,  where 

he  was  captured. 
No.  55.  James   H.    Fortner,    wounded    in    second 

battle  of  Manassas  and  Gettysburg;  left  on 

the  field  and  captured. 
No.  56.  J.  Tyler  Frazier ;  slightly  wounded  in  sec- 
ond battle  of  Manassas ;  captured  on  retreat 

from  Petersburg,  1865. 
No.  57.  William  Frazier,  died  October,  1861. 
No.  58.  Creed  D.  Frazier,  discharged  in  fall  1861. 
No.  59.  W.  A.  French,  in  battles  of  Bull  Run  and 

first  Manassas;  discharged  July,  1861. 
No.  60.  Andrew  J.  French,  discharged    in    fall    of 

1861. 
No.  61.  James  H.   Gardner,  slightly    wounded    in 

battle  of  Bull  Run,  July  18,  1861 ;  deserted 

May,  1863. 
No.  62.  Francis  M.  Gordon,  wounded  in  battle  of 

Frazier's  Farm ;  captured  in  battle  of  Sailor's 

Creek ;  prisoner  at  Point  Lookout. 
No.  63.  Andrew  J.   Grigsby,  promoted    to    Major 

27th  Virginia  regiment. 
No.  64.  Charles  A.  Hale,  surrendered  at  Appomat- 
tox. 
No.  65.  John    A.   Hale,    wounded    in    battles    of 

Williamsburg  and  Five  Forks. 
No.  66.  John  D.  Hare,  died  November  23,  1861. 
No.  67.  Isaac  Hare,  slightly  wounded  in  battle  of 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  371 

Bull  Run,  and  severely  wounded  in  battle 

of  Williamsburg;  transferred. 
No.  68.  John  R.  Henderson,  died  October,  1861. 
No.  69.  James  B.  Henderson,  captured  in  battle  of 

Sailor's  Creek;  in  prison  at  Point  Lookout. 
No.  70.  B.  L.  Hoge,  at  home  sick  at  close  of  the 

war. 
No.  71.  James  Hughes,  discharged,  died  in  1861. 
No.  72.  James    J.   Hurt,    wounded    in    battle    of 

Gettysburg;  captured  at  Sailor's  Creek,  and 

prisoner  at  end  of  the  war. 
No.  73.  George  W.  Hurt,  detached  as  teamster. 
No.  74.  John    F.    Jones,    wounded    in    battle     of 

Gettysburg;  leg  amputated;  discharged. 
No.  75.  George  Johnston,  discharged. 
No.  76.  Mahilius  S.  Johnston,  wounded  in  first  bat- 
tle of  Manassas;  discharged. 
No.  77.  George    Knoll,    wounded     in    battles     of 

Williamsburg  and  Boonsboro;    captured    at 

last  named  battle. 
No.  78.  Charles  N.  J.  Lee,  wounded  in  first  battle 

of  Manassas ;  discharged. 
No.  79.  Henry  Lewey,  wounded  in  first  battle    of 

Manassas ;  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 
No.  80.  Joseph  Lewey,  wounded  at  battle  of  Seven 

Pines ;  surrendered  at  Appomattox. 
No.  81.  W.  H.  Layton,  deserted,  February,  1862. 
No.  82.  James  Lindsey,  discharged,  1861. 
No.  83.  P.  H.  Lefler,  discharged  in  1862. 
No.  84.  Anderson  Meadows,  wounded  in  battle  of 

Williamsburg;  captured  at  Sailor's    Creek; 

prisoner  at  Point  Lookout. 
No.  85.  John   Meadows,    wounded    in    battles    of 


372  THE  STORY  OF 

Williamsburg  and  Gettysburg ;  died  in  1864. 
No.  86.  Ballard  P.  Meadows,  died  June  18,  1862, 

of  wounds  received    in   battle    of    Frazier's 

Farm. 
No.  87.  N.  J.  Morris,  discharged  m  1862. 
No.  88.  George  A.  Minnich,  wounded  in  battle  of 

Frazier's  Farm ;  captured  in  battle  of  Sailor's 

Creek ;  prisoner  at  Point  Lookout. 
No.  89.  Christian   Minnich,  captured  in  battle    of 

Sailor's  Creek;  prisoner  at  Point  Lookout. 
No.  90.  John  H.  Minnich,  discharged  in  1861. 
No.  91.  A.  D.  Manning,  killed  in  battle  of  Seven 

Pines. 
No.  92.  Raleigh  Merricks,  detailed  as  teamster. 
No.  93.  T.  P.  Mays,  wounded  in  battle  of  Frazier's 

Farm ;  killed  in  battle  of  Boonsboro. 
No.  94.  John  H.  Martin,  transferred  in  1861  to  4th 

Virginia  regiment  in  exchange  for  Allen  M. 

Bane,  transferred  to  Company  D  from  4th 

Virginia  regiment. 
No.  95.  John  Q.  Martin,  killed  in  second  battle  of 

Manassas. 
No.  96.  W.  W.  Muncey,  wounded  in  battle  of  Gettys- 
burg. 
No.  97.  James  J.  Nye,  died  of  wounds  received  in 

second  battle  of  Manassas. 
No.  98.  John  Palmer,  deserted  in  spring  of  1862. 
No.  99.  Charles     W.      Peck,     Second     Corporal, 

wounded  in  battle  of  Williamsburg;  died  in 

summer  of  1862. 
No.  100.  John    W.  Sarver,    severely    wounded    in 

battle  of  Frazier's  Farm ;  disabled  and  dis- 
charged. 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  373 

No.  101.  Demarcus  L.  Sarver,  wounded  in  battles 
of  Williamsburg  and  Gettysburg;  deserted. 

No.  102.  Josephus  Suthcrn,  wounded  in  battle  of 
Frazier's  Farm;  captured  in  battle  of  Sail- 
or's Creek ;  died  in  prison  at  Point  Lookout. 

No.  103.  Samuel  B.  Shannon,  wounded  in  battle  of 
first  Manassas;  served  his  one  year  enlist- 
ment; joined  1st  Kentucky  batallion  of 
cavalry. 

No.  104.  John  P.  Sublett,  wounded  in  first  battle  of 
Manassas ;  killed  in  battle  of  Gettysburg. 

No.  105.  William  T.  Sublett,  died  October,  1861. 

No.  106.  Alexander  Skeens,  discharged  in  1862. 

No.  107.  Joseph  Skeens,  discharged  in  1862. 

No.  108.  Lewis  R.  Skeens,  died  August  6,  1862. 

No.  109.  A.  L.  Sumner,  captured  in  battle  of  Five 
Forks;  prisoner  in  Point  Lookout. 

No.  110.  Thomas  J.  Stafford,  discharged  in  1862. 

No.  111.  William  H.  Stafford,  killed  in  battle  of 
Williamsburg. 

No.  1 12.  R.  M.  Stafford,  captured  in  battle  of  Sail- 
or's Creek ;  a  prisoner  in  Point  Lookout. 

No.  113.  Adam  Thompson,  wounded  in  battle  of 
second  Manassas ;  deserted  February,  1864. 

No.  114.  Alonzo  Thompson,  died,  November,  1862. 

No.  115.  Lee  E.  Vass,  died  August  4,  1862,  of 
wounds  received  in  battle  of  Frazier's  Farm. 

No.  116.  W.  R.  C.  Vass,  killed  in  second  battle  of 
Manassas. 

No.  117.  Gordon  L.  Wilburn,  wounded  in  second 
battle  of  Manassas ;  surrendered  at  Ap- 
pomattox. 

No.  118.  Hugh  J.  Wilburn,  wounded  in  battles  of 


374  THE  STORY  OF 

Frazier's  Farm  and  second  Manassas;  de- 
serted in  May,  1863. 

No.  119.  William  I.  Wilburn,  wounded  in  battles 
of  Williamsburg,  and  second  Manassas; 
surrendered  at  Appomattox. 

No.  120.  Lewis  N.  Wiley,  wounded  in  battle  of 
Fredericksburg;  captured  in  battle  of 
Sailor's  Creek ;  a  prisoner  at  Point  Lookout. 

No.  121.  Isaac  Young,  transferred  to  28th  Virginia 
battalion. 

No.  122.  Thomas  J.  Young,  deserted  in  February, 
1862. 

Total  Enlistment,  122. 

Number  killed  in  battle  and  died   of    wounds  17 

Number  died  of  disease  14 

Number  discharged  for  various  causes 29 

Number  transferred  to  other  commands 6 

Number  in  prison  at  Point  Lookout  and  other 

places  (at  close  of  war)    27 

Number  absent,  sick  in  hospital,  wounded,  or 

at  home  (at  close  of  war)  8 

Number  surrendered  at  Appomattox  9 

Number  deserted    12 


122 


Memo. — Absent,  sick  and  wounded  or  at  home  at 
close  of  war: 

B.  L.  Hoge.  George  Knoll. 

W.  W.  Munsey.  J.  B.  Young. 

W.  C.  Fortner.  W.  D.  Peters. 

James  H.  Fortner.  John  A.  Hale. 


Appendix  No.  2 


In  concluding  my  reminiscenses  I  have  deter- 
mined to  add  some  statistics  as  to  the  campaigns, 
strength  and  losses  of  the  two  greatest  armies  of 
the  war — the  Army  of  Northern  Virginia  and  the 
Federal  Army  of  the  Potomac.  Never  before  in 
modern  warfare  had  it  fallen  to  the  lot  of  two  such 
armies  to  fight  so  many  bloody  battles,  with  neither 
able  to  obtain  any  decided  advantage  over  the  other. 
Beginning  with  the  battles  around  Richmond  in 
the  spring  of  1862,  to  the  close  at  Appomattox, 
these  two  armies  fought  many  battles  through  seven 
great  campaigns.  The  Army  of  Northern  Virginia, 
under  General  Lee,  numbering  at  its  greatest  not 
exceeding  80,000  men,  certainly  greatly  inferior  in 
numbers  to  that  opposed — badly  armed,  equipped 
and  fed,  fought  against  six  most  distinguished  Fed- 
eral commanders,  tc-wit: 

McClellan  before  Richmond. 

Pope,  Cedar  Mountain  and  Manassas. 

McClellan  in  Maryland. 

Burnside  at  Fredericksburg. 

Hooker  at  Cha'ncellorsville. 

Meade  at  Gettysburg. 

Grant  from  the  Rapidan  to  Appomattox. 

In  these  campaigns  the  Federals  lost  in  the  ag- 
gregate about  263,000  men.  The  Confederate  loss 
is  not  definitely  known. 

General  Grant's  casualties  were  about  124,390 
men,  and  in  his  campaign  from  March  29,  1865,  to 
April  9,  1865,  his  losses  were  9944. 


378  THE  STORY  OF 

General  Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox  em- 
braced 28,356  men,  of  whom  only  8000  had  arms, 
the  residue  being  largely  made  up  of  broken 
down,  barefoot  and  sick  men,  teamsters  and  at- 
taches of  the  medical,  ordnance,  quartermaster,  and 
commissary  departments. 

It  may  be  of  interest  to  the  reader  to  know  the 
number  of  men  enrolled  in  the  Union  and  the  Con- 
federate armies  during  the  war,  and  the  losses  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  prisoners  held  by  each. 

Official  compilation  shows  that  there  were  en- 
rolled of  white  troops  in  the  Union  army  2,494,592 
Negro  troops 178,975 

Total 2,673,567 

Of  this  number  the  white  troops  from  the 

Southern  and  border  states  278,923 

Negro  troops 140,298 

419,221 
The  enrollment    of    Confederate    troops, 

estimated    700,000 

This  may  not  be  entirely  correct,  but  is 

believed  to  be  substantially  so. 
The  Union  losses  in  killed,    died    from 

wounds,  disease,  and  from  other  causes     360,212 
Of  which  the  killed  in  action  were    67,058 
Died  of  wounds  received  in  action    43,012 

Died  of  disease 224,586 

Deaths    from    other  causes,   or 

from  causes  unknown   25,556 

Total   360,212 


A  CONFEDERATE  BOY  379 

The  Confederate  losses,  as  far  as  can  be  ascer- 
tained, though  not  believed  to  be  entirely  correct, 
were  as  follows : 

Killed  in  action  52,954 

Died  of  wounds  21,570 

Died  of  disease 59,297 

Total    133,821 

The  number  of  Confederate  prisoners 
taken  and  held  by  the  Federal  govern- 
ment during  the  war  was 220,000 

Number  that  died  in  Northern  prisons 
( 12  per  cent  of  the  total)  ....     26,000 

Number  of  Union  prisoners  held  by  Con- 
federates          270,000 

Number  that  died  in  Southern  prisons 
(less  than  9  per  cent) 22,000 

Confederate  soldiers  paroled,  1865 174,223 

Number  of  battles  and  skirmishes  fought  during 
the  war,  over  two  thousand. 

NOTE — The  most  of  the  above  statistics  were  ob- 
tained from  "Confederate  Military  History,"  edited  by 
General  Clement  A.  Evans,  and  from  "The  Century  Book 
of  Facts,"  by  Ruoff. 


Bridgeport  National 
Bindery,  Inc. 

SEPT.  2000 


